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AN 

EXPERIMENTAL ENQUIRY 

INTO THE 

Chemical Properties and Medicinal Qiialities 

s 

OF THE PRINCIPAL 

MINERAL WATERS 

/ 

OF 

BALLSTON AND SARATOGA, 

IN THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 

WITH DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF THOSE WATERS IN 

THE VARIOUS DISEASES TO WHICH THEY ARE 

APPLICABLE; AND OBSERVATIONS ON 

DIET AND REGIMEN. 

TO WHICH IS ADDED 

AN APPENDIX, 

CONTAINING 

A CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEBANON SPRING IN 

THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 



BY WILLIAM MEADE, M. D. 

Member of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia; Honorary 

Member of the Royal Physical Society of Edinburgh; Member of 

the Linnaan Society, and Corresponding Member of 

the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 



Tales sunt aqu» qualis terra per quam flaunt. 

Plin- 




/° PHILADELPHIA: 

PUBLISHED BY HARRISON HALL, AT THE PORT FOLIO 

OFFICE, No. 133, CHESNUT STREET. 

William Fry, Printer. 

1817. 



^*i%%\ 




^ W^ fW* V* ««*<% *H 



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District of Pennsylvania, to wit: 

********** BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-ninth day of 

* SEAL. | May, in the forty-first year of the Independence of the 

********** United States of America, A. D. 1817, William Meade, of the 

said district, has deposited in this office, the title of a hook, the right 

whereof he claims as Author, in the words following, to wit: 

" An Experimental Enquiry into the Chemical Properties and Medicinal 
Qualities of the Principal Mineral Waters of Ballston and Saratoga, in the 
State of New-York. With directions for the use of those Waters in the 
various diseases to which they are applicable; and observations on Diet and 
Regimen. To which is added An Appendix, containing a Chemical Analysis 
of the Lebanon Spring in the State of New-York. By William Meade, 
M. D. Member of the American Philosophical Society of Philadelphia; 
Honorary Member of the Royal Physical Soeiety of Edinburgh; Member 
of the Linnajan Society, and Corresponding Member of the Academy of 
Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Tales sunt aqu» qualis terra per quam 
fluunt. — Plin." 

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, in- 
titled, " An act for the encouragement of learning 1 , by securing the 
copies of maps, charts, and books, to the authors and proprietors of 
such copies, during the times therein mentioned." And also to the 
act, entitled, " An act supplementary to an act, entitled, '« An act for 
the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, 
and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the 
times therein mentioned, 9 ' and extending the benefits thereof to the 
arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." 

D.CALDWELL, 
Clerk of the District of Pennsylvania. 



V 



■ 



-Behold! the glooms disclose, 



I see the fountains in their infant beds; 
Deep, deep I hear them labouring to get free: 

I see the leaning strata 

The layers then 

Of mingled Ores, of more retentive earths; 
The gutter'd rocks, the mazy-running clefts, 
That, while the rising vapour they transmit, 
Restrain its motion and forbid its waste: 
I see the rocky siphons stretch'd immense; 
The mighty reservoirs of harden'd chalk 
Or stiff compacted clay, capacious form'd: 
O'erflowing thence, the congregated stores, 
The crystal treasures of the liquid world, 
Through the stirr'd sands a bubbling passage burst, 
And welling out, around the middle steep, 
Or from the bottom of the bosom'd hills 

In pure effusion flow. 

But who their virtues can declare? who pierce, 
With vision pure, into these secret stores 
Of health, and life, and joy? 

Thomson. 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Preface - - ------ xi 

CHAPTER I. 

Description of Ballston and Saratoga 1 

Mineralogy of the surrounding country - - 3 

Situation and description of the Springs - - 10 

CHAPTER II. 
Chemical Analysis of Lowe's Well - - -23 

Temperature and specific gravity - - - 24 

Sensible qualities of the water - - - - 25 

Examination by tests or reagents - - - 27 

Examination of the gaseous contents - - - 39 

of the substances held in solution by 

carbonic acid gas - - - - - - 43 

Examination of the solid contents by evaporation - 47 

Result of the Analysis of Lowe's Well - - 56 

Chemical Analysis of the Public Well at Ball- 
ston --.----.57 

Sensible qualities and specific gravity - - 58 

Examination of the solid contents by evaporation - 59 

Result of the Analysis of the Public Well - - 62 



viii Contents. 

Page 
Chemical Analysis of the Congress Spring, Sa- 
ratoga -------- 

External character, temperature, and specific gravity 
Examination of Congress water by tests or reagents 
Conclusions to be drawn from the effect of tests 
Experiments to ascertain its gaseous contents 
Examination of its solid contents by evaporation 
Result of the analysis - 

Chemical Analysis of the Flat Rock Spring, Sa- 
ratoga - 

External qualities, temperature, and specific gravity 
Effects of tests or reagents - - - 

Quantity of carbonic acid gas - 

Examination of its solid contents by evaporation 
Result of the analysis, with observations 

CHAPTER III. 

General observations on the composition of Mine- 
ral Waters ---..- 91 

Remarks on the incorrectness of a late analysis - 92 

Comparison between those waters and such as re- 
semble them in Europe 99 

Remarks on the inefficacy of such salts as are ob- 
tained from mineral waters by evaporation and 
crystallization - - - - - - 104 

Synoptical Table, exhibiting the contents of the 
waters of Ballston and Saratoga, compared with 
others which they resemble - - - 107 

CHAPTER IV. 

Observations on the Medicinal Qualities of the 

Waters of Ballston and Saratoga - - 109 
Principal qualities which they possess - - 111 



Contents. ix 

Page 

Their use in bilious diseases - - - - 119 

111 effects of the inordinate use of them - - 121 

Directions for the proper use of them - - 125 

Observations on diet and regimen - - - 130 
'■ on their use in dyspepsia - -134 
————— on their use in certain diseases which 

have any resemblance to dyspepsia - - 138 

Observations on the use of these waters in scrophula 142 

— — — — on their use in diseases of females 144 

in hemorrhoidal com- 
plaints - - - 147 
in worms - - 148 
in cutaneous complaints, 
with observations on warm bathing - - - 151 
Observations on their use in complaints of the kid- 
neys -------- 158 

Observations on the injurious or doubtful qualities 

of these waters in certain diseases - - - 1 60 

in apoplexy - - - 161 

in epilepsy - - - - 162 

in phthisis pulmonalis - - 16 

in hooping cough - - - 163 

in atonic gout - - - 163 

in rheumatism - - - 165 

in dropsy - - - - 165 

in diarrhoea and dysentery - 166 

Conclusion - - - - - - - 167 



APPENDIX. 

Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 

SECTION I. 

Description of Lebanon, its mineralogy, Sec. - - 169 

b 



x Contents. 

Page 
SECTION II. 

Situation of the Spring, temperature, Sec. - - 172 

SECTION III. 
Examination of its gaseous contents - - - - 174 

SECTION IV. 

Examination with tests or reagents - - - 179 

SECTION V. 

Examination of the solid contents by evaporation - 182 

Result of the analysis - - - - - 185 

Observations on different thermal waters - - 186 

SECTION VI. 

Observations on the external and internal use of the waters 

of Lebanon - - - - - - - 187 

Of the doubtful effect of such waters in phthisis 188 
Of the use of thermal waters in dyspepsia and gout 190 
©n the use of Lebanon water as a bath - - 1 9 1 
On the advantage to be derived from it as such in 
certain cases of gout, rheumatism, chorea and 
herpes - ...... 194 



PREFACE 



THE reputation which the waters of Ballston and 
Saratoga have so deservedly acquired, render them a 
subject of so much interest to the public, that it is 
to be presumed an Enquiry into their Chemical and 
Medicinal Qualities, will not be unacceptable. 

No person can seriously doubt that a perfect 
knowledge of the chemical properties of a mineral 
water is essential to the Physician who ventures to 
prescribe it. There is, perhaps, no country which 
abounds more with useful mineral waters than 
America; nor are there any which are less known, 
or whose real qualities have been so little attended to. 
The physician who is engaged in extensive practice, 
has no leisure for such an enquiry; and so few and 
inaccurate are the publications on this subject, that 
he knows not where to seek for information on so 
important a branch of his profession. 

It has been frequently suggested to me that an 
accurate analysis of the principal mineral waters of 
this country would be highly interesting as well to 
the philosopher as to the physician. In compliance, 



xii Preface. 

therefore, with the wishes of those whose partiality 
has thought me qualified for the task, I have com- 
menced this undertaking by giving an analysis of 
the principal waters of Ballston and Saratoga. A 
residence of some months at those places has enabled 
me so to vary and repeat my experiments, that I can 
venture to rely on the accuracy of the statements. 

For the faithfulness with which they have been 
performed, and the zeal with which I have prose- 
cuted this undertaking, I can also presume to ap- 
peal to the knowledge of many gentlemen of science 
and learning who were visiters there at the time, 
and who were witnesses to the result of the inves- 
tigation. 

Having no other wish than to give an accurate 
analysis, and feeling no interest whatsoever in the 
comparative qualities of any one particular spring, I 
hope that I am the last person to be suspected either 
of prejudice or partiality. Such as each of them 
really appeared to me by experiment, so have I 
described them. 

Before commencing the analysis of those waters, 
it was necessary to give some account of their na- 
tural history and topographical situation. In doing 
so, the mineralogy of the surrounding country has 
not escaped my attention as a very important branch 
of the subject. 

For the first part of this description, having no 
other means to acquire information, I feel myself 
principally indebted to those local histories of the 



Preface. xiii 

state which are in the hands of many persons in this 
country. But for the second part, I confess I should 
have felt myself much at a loss, had I not availed 
myself of that general knowledge of mineralogy 
which I had been enabled to acquire as one of my 
most favourite studies and pursuits. 

The observations, therefore, which will be found 
on this head, both mineralogical and geological, are 
drawn from an inspection of every part of the sur- 
rounding country, and from such valuable informa- 
tion as I could derive from the geological map of 
Mr. M'Clure, the only authority which I had to rely 
upon. 

Without the aid of mineralogy, the chemical 
analysis alone of a mineral water would render our 
enquiry imperfect and unsatisfactory; in treating this 
subject, therefore, scientifically, I have frequently 
been obliged to make use of technical expressions 
which are not familiar to the generality of readers; 
for this I must claim some indulgence, hoping at the 
same time that, in the course of this work, useful 
information may be found in it by all classes of 
readers. 

It is not within the province of a chemical writer 
alone, to speak of the medicinal qualities of a mine- 
ral water; but as I conceive that this work would 
be less extensively useful if I confined it to a mere 
chemical description, I have been induced as a phy- 
sician to dwell at some length on the medicinal 
properties of these waters, the use and abuse of them. 



xiv Preface. 

The observations which I have made on this branch 
of the subject are the result of extensive experience 
at those watering places in Europe which have any 
resemblance to these, and are most esteemed. 

Differing as I do in many points with the gene- 
rality of those who make use of the waters of Ball- 
ston or Saratoga, I cannot flatter myself that all my 
opinions will be adopted even by the profession. But 
I still hope that some of my suggestions may be 
practically useful, and that they may be received 
with liberality and candour. 

For the views of the villages of Ballston and Sara- 
toga, taken on the spot, which accompanies this 
work, I feel myself indebted to the pencil of M. 
Lesueur, whose talents as a naturalist and a drafts- 
man, are too well known both here and in Europe to 
require any eulogium of mine. 

While in the neighbourhood of Lebanon in the 
state of New- York, I embraced that opportunity of 
examining the Thermal Spring which is situated there 
and is much frequented by invalids. I have therefore 
added as an appendix, the chemical analysis of this 
water, which I hope will not be found uninteresting, 
as affording a very remarkable contrast to any of the 
waters either of Ballston or Saratoga, having scarcely 
any one quality in common with them; and exhibit- 
ing, at the same time, some curious and interesting 
chemical facts; to which I have also added a few 
practical observations on the virtue of this water, 
both externally and internally. 



Preface, xv 

The result of this experimental enquiry I now 
submit to the public, conscious that I have engaged 
in one of the most difficult investigations in chemis- 
try. If it should be found in any degree useful, or 
if it should lead others to pursue so interesting a 
subject, I shall consider the time and labour which I 
have bestowed on it, as not misapplied. 



CHEMICAL ANALYSIS 



OF THE 



PRINCIPAL WATERS 



OF 



BALLSTON AND SARATOGA, 



CHAPTER I. 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga — the situation and num- 
ber of the Springs; with Observations connected with the 
Mineralogy and Geology of its vicinity, and the surround- 
ing country. 

THE village of Ballston, in which the springs are 
situated, lies in the county of Saratoga in the state of 
New York, about two hundred miles north of that 
city, and about twelve miles west from the Hudson 
or North river. It is situated in a deep valley, through 
which passes a branch of the Kaydarosoras river. It 
is surrounded by a range of undulating hills, which 
form a species of amphitheatre, and from which a 
most agreeable view of the town is presented. 

The soil in the neighbourhood is poor and sandy, 
A 



2 Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 

covered with oak, pine, and hemlock, except in the 
vicinity of the town, where even the sand hills, which 
surround it, are almost cleared of their wood, which 
greatly impairs the effect of the scenery. 

Within seven miles of Ballston is situated the 
village of Saratoga. The road from Ballston to it is 
chiefly over a sandy pine plane, and the face of the 
country around is on the whole wild and barren, ex- 
cept in the valleys, where the soil is more fertile and 
well cultivated. A range of hills or mountains run 
to the westward exhibiting the appearance of one 
vast forest, which when viewed from the heights that 
surround the village, present a very striking and 
picturesque scenery. 

Before I speak particularly of the rocks in the 
neighbourhood of Ballston, it may not be uninterest^ 
ing to trace the strata from the mouth of the Hudson 
or North River. 

Commencing at the west side of this river near 
Princeton in New- Jersey, we observe the first ap- 
pearance of the red sandstone, which, according to 
some geologists, first succeeds the transition rocks. 
Here commence rocks of secondary formation re- 
posing upon the sandstone. Passing through Newark 
towards the North River, the beds of sandstone are 
very apparent. Proceeding in a westerly course to- 
wards the Pasaaic, a range of hills commences which 
are formed of secondary rocks still resting on the 
sandstone, till arriving at the falls of the Pasaaic, 
.hose rocks assume a perfect secondary character, 



Description of Balls ton and Saratoga, 

which is well observed at the falls where the strata is 
very much broken; the rocks in this place exhibit 
masses of trap alternating with secondary green 
stone, clink stone, wacke, and amygdaloid. This 
formation stretches to the North River, and in its 
course as far only as Tappan, where it terminates* 
and the primitive rock appears. This primitive 
formation is a continuation of that immense chain of 
primitive mountains which prevail and extend 
through the eastern states, and which crosses the 
North River between Tappan and Newburgh, run- 
ning under the secondary and transition rocks at 
those places and taking a westerly direction. 

At Newburgh on the North River the primitive is 
lost, and a transition country presents itself, which 
can be traced along the banks of that river for near 
one hundred miles, forming a range of hills which in 
many places consist of trap rocks assuming a co- 
lumnar structure. Those rocks of trap, alternate with 
greenstone, whinstone, argillaceous schist, and grey 
wacce slate, till passing through Albany we arrive at 
the Mohawk, where the same transition rocks are 
again observed with little variation, particularly at the 
Cohos falls, where from the violence of the cataract 
the irruption of the rock is considerable: the transi- 
tion rock is still observed at both sides of this river, 
but soon after a range of sandhills commence, and 
all traces of the strata are lost for several miles; till 
after having passed over those hills which extend to 
the distance of twenty miles, and proceeding in a 



4 Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 

westerly course from the Hudson river, we arrive in 
the neighbourhood of Ballston. Here the floetz or 
horizontal formation is first observed, and continues 
to prevail through a great extent of country, taking 
in the whole of Ballston and Saratoga, extending to 
the westward to the borders of lake Ontario and lake 
Erie, and terminating with an extensive range of 
mountains to the north-west at the distance of about 
thirty miles. Proceeding to the north towards lake 
George the secondary ends, and the primitive forma- 
tion commences and continues to prevail, constituting 
the whole range of hills which run at the west side 
both of lake George and lake Champlain, while the 
east side of those lakes are transition. 

But as the nature of the rocks which are in the 
immediate vicinity of Ballston and Saratoga require 
more particular notice, I shall confine myself on this 
occasion principally to their description. 

The ground is principally composed of two or 
three species of rocks of secondary formation, but 
these are so covered with immense, beds of sand, 
that it is difficult to ascertain this formation, and it 
can only be done by an attentive examination of the 
rivulets which in some places have laid bare the 
strata. 

The surface of the ground both at Ballston and 
Saratoga is covered with large insulated masses of 
stone, commonly called boulders, consisting of large 
blocks of quartz and rolled masses of other primitive 
rocks. These scattered blocks must have been trans- 



Description of B a list on and Saratoga. 5 

mitted from the neighbouring mountains, as they are 
not attached to the rocks in situ, and have no con- 
nexion with them; they are found in every country 
and only prove the action of an extensive flood of 
water. We are not therefore to consider them as 
comprising any part of the rocks of this place, as has 
been the case with those w r ho have inattentively ex- 
amined its mineralogy; in this way only can I account 
for the statement which has been given by Professor 
Griscom, when he says, that "at Saratoga are many 
rocks in hardness approaching to porphyry, nor are 
calcarious or magnesian stones found in the neigh- 
bourhood of the springs."* This assertion is certainly 
a mistake, as the whole of the rocks in the neigh- 
bourhood are principally calcarious, nor can either 
granite or porphyry be observed in any direction, 
except in these insulated masses which are exten- 
sively scattered over this part of the country. 

In the centre of the village of Ballston an excel- 
lent opportunity is offered of examining the situation 
of the strata. A small rivulet runs through it, which 
has laid bare an entire range of floetz or horizontal 
rocks, consisting of what may be called a calcario- 
argillaceous schist or shale. This schist is nearly of 
a black colour, and from its staining the fingers 
would appear to contain a portion of carbon; it effer- 
vesces slightly with acids, which shows that it also 
contains carbonat of lime; it breaks easily into 

* Vide Bruce's Mineralogical Journal, 



6 Description of Ballston and Saratoga, 

laminae of any thickness, and impressions of vegeta- 
bles, chiefly of a species of grass, can be observed 
between the laminae; but when large masses are 
exposed for any length of time to the atmosphere, 
it rapidly shivers, or decomposes; and at this time 
assumes a trapezoidal form, having a tendency to 
break into spherical masses or columns of a pris- 
matic shape, which are principally either hexagonal 
or pentagonal. Specimens of this schist I have de- 
posited in the cabinet of the Philosophical Society of 
Philadelphia, where this change of fracture which 
is singular can be noticed, such as is frequently ob- 
served by the sudden congelation or drying of large 
parcels of starch. 

Alternating with this schist and near the same 
place, wherever the beds of sand will admit an in- 
spection of the rock, solid masses of calcarious rocks 
are observed, particularly within three miles of 
Ballston, where a mill site has been erected, and 
where the flcetz or horizontal formation of the rock 
is most beautifully illustrated. This limestone is nearly 
of a black colour, its fracture is slaty, it abounds with 
shells of various forms, some of which are so very 
apparent in their structure and form as not to be mis- 
taken; they principally consist of bivalves, maddra- 
pori, terebratulites, corrolites, and echinites, so ex- 
tremely similar in many respects to fossils which I 
have in my possession from Mendip in England, 
that it is difficult to distinguish the specimens from 
each other. This stone when rubbed emits an urinous 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 7 

smell similar to the stink stone of Werner; it burns 
also into lime, when it loses its colour. On the whole, 
I think that this may be called the third or newest 
floetz lime stone of geologists. 

When we arrive at Saratoga the same species of 
rock presents itself, and is so apparent, particularly 
in the neighbourhood of the springs, that it is only 
surprising how it should have escaped the notice of 
the most superficial observer. But there is some 
variety here in the formation of the rocks; the shells 
are not so abundant in it, and the greater proportion 
of the rock is traversed with seams of flint or chert 
which is found embedded in it, sometimes in the 
form of veins, but principally in nodules or rolled 
pieces, so intimately mixed with the limestone, that 
they appear to run into each other, having no 
simple line of division between the calcarious and 
siliceous parts; the former being penetrated with 
particles of the latter, which is a much more remark- 
able fact than finding seams or nodules of siliceous 
matter in a stratum that is purely calcarious, and 
would seem to strengthen the opinion of those who 
conceive that lime and flint are convertible into each 
other by natural processes. 

Specimens of this peculiar rock I have also depo- 
sited in the cabinet of the Philosophical Society, as it 
is only by collecting and observing such facts, that 
we can ever arrive at any correct geological know- 
ledge. 

Besides these rocks which I have attempted to 



3 Description of Ballston and Saratoga, 

describe and which characterize a secondary country, 
it is necessary to state that those undulating hills 
which surround the village of Ballston, and which 
continue to prevail in the village of Saratoga, are 
formed principally of immense beds of fine siliceous 
sand, as may be particularly observed in the rear of 
Alldridge's boarding-house, where the height of one 
of those hills, which is very precipitous, cannot be 
less than 150 feet; under this sand lies immense beds 
of stiff blue clay, which hardens when left for any 
time exposed to the atmosphere; it effervesces 
slightly but does not dissolve in acids, from which I 
should rather call it an argillaceous marie; it appears 
with some probability to have been formed by the 
decomposition of the schist in the neighbourhood; 
it is to be found by digging in the valleys in any 
direction, and it can be well observed on the side of 
a declivity near Lowe's Well, where a considerable 
saline efflorescence can be seen on its surface, parti- 
cularly after rain, owing to the chrystallization of the 
salt which is produced by the sun's rays. This is a 
very interesting fact, and as exactly such a peculiar 
species of clay is found to prevail in the soil from 
which the waters of Cheltenham arise, it may tend in 
some degree to explain from whence waters of this 
description receive their saline impregnation. Indeed 
every circumstance connected with the geology of 
this part of the country indicates something of an 
alluvial deposition, and can leave no doubt in our 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 9 

mind of the very great influence which an extensive 
deluge has had in its formation. 

No metallic veins of ore have been discovered in 
this neighbourhood in any direction, nor indeed were 
they to be expected, as the strata which I have de- 
scribed is never accompanied with any valuable mi- 
nerals, and except iron, which is found in all the low 
grounds in the state of an argillaceous or bog iron 
ore, I know of no other metallic deposit. 

Many circumstances induce me to suspect that 
coal may be found in this neighbourhood, though as 
yet no trace of it has been discovered on the surface 
of the ground; yet as it is usually found in the same 
formation and almost always accompanies that pecu- 
liar species of shale which is observed here, it is not 
improbable but this may be found the seat of an ex- 
tensive coal deposit. 

Having thus given a sketch of the mineral strata 
which exist in the vicinity of Ballston and Saratoga, 
and of the surrounding country, I cannot here help 
noticing the term JYew TVorld, which is frequently 
applied to this continent, as if there was something in 
its formation and origin which was of later date than 
that of Europe. 

The observations, however, of every traveller would 
refute this opinion, and place the origin and struc- 
ture of this part of the world much anterior to the 
greater part of Europe, Had Linnaeus visited this 
country and examined its vast and beautiful variety 
of plants, some of which now adorn the gardens and 

B 



10 Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 

shrubberies of modern Europe, he would not have 
called this a New World. Had Werner, when form- 
ing his theory of the earth, visited the rocks of this 
country, its great mountain ranges, where almost all 
is primitive and on a stupendous scale, and had he 
compared these with such as he had previously seen, 
he would not be inclined to call this a New World. 
Had Cuvier, after examining the organic remains of 
the vicinity of Paris, visited and explored the banks 
of the Mississippi and Ohio, and traced there the re- 
mains of the most gigantic animals of the creation, 
he would have hesitated before he pronounced this a 
New World. If, however, by new world is meant 
nothing more than that many of its productions are 
new to the European; that the institutions of the 
inhabitants are new; and that the state of the arts and 
sciences are comparatively new, then I confess there 
is no great misapplication of the term. 

I now come to give a more particular history of 
the situation of the springs which are found at 
Ballston and Saratoga. 

It is usual to commence with giving some account 
of the circumstances attending the first discovery of 
any particular mineral water. On this subject, how- 
ever, in a part of the country which has scarcely been 
settled a century, it is difficult to obtain any accu- 
rate information; from which cause we cannot even 
have any very remote tradition. But if we cannot 
trace the use of these waters to so early a period as the 
eleventh century, as has been the case with respect 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 11 

to the waters of Pyrmont; or if we cannot show that 
the Emperor Charlemagne enjoyed the benefit of them 
in the same manner as he is said to have done at 
those of Aix la Chapelle, still we may venture to 
presume that the native princes, or chiefs, of this 
country, were not unacquainted with their qualities, 
and partook of the use of them at full as early a 
period; indeed every enquiry seems to confirm the 
opinion which the present inhabitants entertain, that 
those mineral waters were first pointed out to their 
ancestors by the original inhabitants of the country; 
nor is this by any means improbable when we reflect 
that those people who draw all their remedies from 
the obvious qualities of those plants which nature 
presented to them, if furnished with no other criterion 
but taste, could scarcely overlook the striking effect 
which was produced by the use of a water which 
differed so much from that which they were generally 
accustomed to drink. Its qualities therefore must 
have early attracted their notice, and thus it is not 
difficult to understand from what source the first 
European settlers derived their information: how- 
ever this may be, the qualities of these waters were 
early known to the present inhabitants, and it appears 
were used medicinally by them, with uncommon 
success, till by degrees their reputation increasing, 
persons resorted from a distance to this place for the 
use of the waters, and thus villages sprung up in 
situations which had nothing particular to recom- 
mend them but the advantages which they derived 



12 Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 

from springs possessing such powerful medicinal 
qualities. 

At this period there are few places in any country 
where the invalid, or the man of leisure, can be more 
agreeably accommodated than at Ballston and Sara- 
toga. In this, certainly Ballston first took the lead, 
principally owing to the spirited exertions of a 
wealthy proprietor, who has spared no expense in 
erecting a building at once spacious and commodi- 
ous; and this, with several other hotels equally re- 
spectable, has established Ballston as a watering 
place of the most fashionable resort in the United 
States. 

While Ballston was thus increasing in reputation, 
the springs of Saratoga were rising fast into notice. 
Their numbers and variety could not escape atten- 
tion; and it was soon perceived that one of them in 
particular, called the Congress Spring, possessed 
superior strength to any of those at Ballston; and 
that in many instances it was found to exhibit pow- 
erful medicinal qualities. Visiters, therefore, to Sara- 
toga, yearly increased; and the erection of handsome 
buildings for their accommodation was the natural 
consequence; so that it is now difficult to say which 
of those places afford the most comfort and conveni- 
ence to those who frequent them. That nothing should, 
be wanting at either of those places, warm baths are 
provided for the benefit of those who require them, 
the use and abuses of which, as well as of the waters 
themselves, I shall hereafter discuss. 



Description of Bal/ston and Saratoga. 13 

At such places as these, there is but one method of 
living, to which all persons must submit; it has, 
however, this advantage, that it contributes to social 
intercourse and amusement, but seldom to dissipa- 
tion. At all those public tables which afford accom- 
modation to the company, the utmost regularity and 
order is observed; regular hours, wholesome and ex- 
cellent provisions, attended with a proper degree of 
abstemiousness and sobriety, contribute to restore 
the health, and to assist the medicinal qualities of the 
waters. 

The season of the year which is judiciously se- 
lected for the use of these waters, is the summer 
months, at which time some of the large cities are 
deserted by many of their inhabitants from the sup- 
posed insalubrity of the air in them; thus adopting 
the advice of a favourite poet, who describes such 
places in the following lines: 

Ye who amid the fev'rish world would wear 

A body free of pain, of cares a mind; 

Fly the rank city, shun its turbid air; 

Breathe not the chaos of eternal smoke 

And volatile corruption, from the dead, 

The dying, sick'ning, and the living world 

Exhaled, to sully heaven's transparent dome 

With dim mortality. 

While yet you breathe, away; the rural wilds 

Invite; the mountains call you, and the vales; 

The woods, the streams, and each ambrosial breeze 

That fans the ever undulating sky. 

Armstrong on Health. 



14 Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 

Great benefit is found by this change, as the 
climate is much cooler in summer at Ballston and 
Saratoga, than in the neighbourhood of any of the 
large cities. The thermometer seldom rises so high, 
and the nights are always cool and comfortable. On 
the whole, the country around it is perfectly healthy 
except in the vicinity of some of the lakes, where 
late in the autumn occasional intermittents are found 
prevalent, but this was the case more frequently 
formerly than at present, and will continue to decrease 
as the woods are cut down and the land becomes 
drained. On the whole, so few instances of these 
intermittents have come under my observation, that 
I consider them as very rare indeed, and no cause of 
alarm to the visiters either at Ballston or Saratoga, 
as from their situation and the nature of the soil in 
their vicinity, which is dry and sandy, nothing of the 
kind can be apprehended in those places. 

There are only two springs in general use at 
Ballston; one of them (that which was first discover- 
ed) is situated in the centre of the town, and is called 
the Public Well, having been reserved for the bene- 
volent purpose of serving the public by Sir William 
Johnson, in the original grant of the land to private 
individuals. This spring issues from a bed of stiff 
blue clay and gravel which lies near a stratum of 
schist or shale, nearly on a level with the brook or 
rivulet which runs through the town, the course of 
which rivulet has been changed by a dyke or canal, 
in order to divert it from the source of the 
springs. 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga, 15 

The ground rises with a gentle acclivity to the 
north of the Spring, forming one of those sand hills 
which have been already described. 

The Well is five or six feet deep, and the water 
rises up in such abundance, that it would be difficult 
to ascertain the quantity which it pours out in a 
given period of time. Immense quantities of gas 
in the form of air bubbles, break with a sort of 
explosion on the surface; and whenever the water 
continues at rest for any time exposed to the at- 
mosphere, a slight irridescent pellicle appears on its 
surface. 

A circular vessel of wood forms the Well in its 
present state, into the side of which a trough is 
introduced which carries off the redundant water. 
The sides of the vessel which is here introduced to 
confine the water are covered with an incrustation 
of a light brown colour, and the whole channel, 
through which the water flows, contains such a 
quantity of this substance, which is constantly de- 
positing, that it is necessary to remove it every year, 
in order to give a free passage to the waters of the 
well. 

This deposition is erroneously supposed to be the 
iron which is deposited from the water; but this is 
not the case, as the analysis will hereafter show. It 
effervesces and nearly dissolves in acids, which proves 
that it consists principally of earthy carbonates ca- 
loured by oxyd of iron. 

For what reason I know not, the ground has been 



16 Description of Ballston and Saratoga, 

raised to the height of six or seven feet round the 
well, so that the water is taken up in a glass tumbler 
attached to the end of a long iron rod. Whether this 
is the most judicious mode of constructing the well, 
is worth serious consideration; — it certainly is not the 
most convenient, nor does it seem judicious to sur- 
round the water with wood when cisterns of marble 
or sand stone could be so easily obtained. 

By a proper construction of the well, and surround- 
ing it with marble, any communication with the 
water of the hill may not only be effectually pre- 
vented, but the spring may by this means be made 
to rise much higher, so as nearly to find its own 
level. This would improve the qualities of the water, 
as from the additional weight and pressure, as well 
as from a greater surface of the water being exposed 
to the gas which is extricated from the bottom of the 
spring, a much larger quantity of it would be ab- 
sorbed. 

But as this fountain is so precious in the opinion 
of the inhabitants of the place, all suggestions of this 
kind are received with great suspicion and alarm, lest 
it should make any alteration injurious to the charac- 
ter of the water. 

The next well is situated about 200 yards to the 
west of the public one. It lies very low in the val- 
ley and not many feet above the level of the rivulet. 
The soil from which the water rises is much the 
same as that of the public well, but close to the 
spring is a peat morass several feet deep, which is 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 17 

annually accumulating and will continue to do so till 
it is drained. 

This spring, which is called Lowe's Well, from its 
being situated on the private property of that gentle- 
man, shows exactly the same appearance as the pub- 
lic w T ell, which I have just described; its taste and 
obvious qualities are so precisely similar that I found 
it impossible to distinguish between them; it is also 
confined in the same manner by means of a circular 
vessel of wood, which has an opening to admit the 
passage of the water after it rises to a certain height. 
The ground around it is not so high, so that it is 
easier of access, and has the advantage of being 
covered with a building which is connected with 
the warm baths. 

By digging in the neighbourhood of this well in 
almost every direction, springs will be found ex- 
hibiting the same qualities in a slight degree; some 
of them are visible at present, impregnated with 
iron and saline particles, but by no means so strong 
as the water of Lowe's spring, which, with the 
public well already mentioned, are the principal 
ones which are generally and indiscriminately used. 

Within about thirty yards of Lowe's well, the 
analysis of which I have given in a particular man- 
ner, another spring something similar to this is to be 
seen, but by no means so strong in its saline con- 
tents. It however differs in some respects, as it ex- 
hales in a slight degree the peculiar vapour of stil- 

C 



18 Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 

phurated hydrogen gas, in consequence of which it 
is supposed by some to possess the properties which 
are usually attributed to sulphurous waters. Having 
examined it with proper tests, I did not find 
it of consequence sufficient to make an analysis 
of it. 

Some persons who have visited these springs many 
years ago, have pretended to remark, that these 
waters are not so highly acidulous and sparkling at 
present as they formerly were; but I have no doubt 
that this is a mistake. If we judge from analogy, 
we have no reason to suspect it. We know that some 
of the most celebrated mineral waters in Europe 
have uniformly preserved for centuries not only their 
temperature, but the same physical properties. What 
reason, therefore, can we have to imagine, that those 
waters in particular should suffer any alteration: it 
would be less surprising to find that they had totally 
disappeared, from accidental or natural causes, than 
to suspect any diminution of their qualities, while 
they flow in the same place, and in the same manner. 
Taste alone, therefore, cannot be relied upon; and as 
there is no criterion of heat to be depended on but 
the thermometer, so can there be no true criterion 
of the real qualities of any water but by chemical 
anatysis. 

Much of what I have here said will apply to the 
springs at Saratoga; however, they are too important 
not to speak of them separately and distinctly 



Description of BaUston and Saratoga. , 19 

The situation of the country round Saratoga dif- 
fers but little from that of Baliston, except that the 
hills are not so high, and the valley is more exten- 
sive. It lies low, and the soil is principally sand or 
gravel, covered with peat. In this valley a number of 
springs are to be found, showing more or less the 
same sensible qualities. To these wells, different 
names are given, such as the Congress Spring, the 
Flat Rock, the Hamilton, the President, the Colum- 
bian, the Round Rock, Sec. They are but a short 
distance from each other; and as the same appear- 
ances present themselves in every part of this valley, 
many more may certainly be found if it was ex* 
amined. 

The water in each of those springs arises from a 
bed of sand intermixed with stiff blue clay, and over- 
laying the calcarious and schistose rocks. 

The source of these springs does not appear to lie 
deep, as they are all found within five or six feet of 
the surface. 

They are all confined or enclosed in circular or 
square wooden vessels, not more than five or six feet 
deep. 

In all of these wells, the same sparkling appear- 
ance and extrication of gas is observed, as has been 
already described, but in some rather more than in 
others, which seems in some degree to depend on 
the shape and extent of the well. Some of those 
springs rise nearly to the surface; others, such as the 



20 Description of Ballston and Saratoga* 

Congress Spring, is not raised to within four or five 
feet of it, and the water is dipped out with a glass in 
the same manner as at Ballston. 

The waters flow from this well in particular in 
great abundance, affording not only sufficient for the 
daily use of the company, but allowing immense 
quantities of it to be carried off not only in bottles 
but in barrels, for the use of those at a distance, 
without any sensible diminution either of its quantity 
or quality. 

One of these springs, called the Round Rock, has 
something so peculiar in appearance as to attract par- 
ticular notice. It is situated at the foot of a calcarious 
rock low in the valley, and is covered by a cone or 
pyramid near six feet high; this cone is hollow and 
has a hole at the top about nine inches wide, from 
which the water can be seen in a state of agitation, 
as if boiling, from the extrication of gas, which rises 
to the surface. An opening, at the bottom of this 
cone, about four or five inches wide, on a level with 
the surface of the ground, gives an exit at present to 
the water. I say at present, for the whole of this 
curious formation admits of an easy explanation. 
This, as well as all those springs, contain a large 
portion of lime held in solution by the excess of car- 
bonic acid which they contain. When exposed to the 
atmosphere the carbonic acid flies off, and the lime 
is precipitatd in the form of a stalactite or calc tufa; 
at the first appearance of this water on the surface, 



Description of Ballston and Saratoga. 21 

this process took place, at the edges and sides of the 
well, till in the progress of time the whole of this 
cone, consisting of carbonate of lime, was formed, 
the well always rising as it was confined, and con- 
tinuing to flow or find its own level at the top; till 
either from accident or design an opening was made 
at the bottom of the cone, which now gives an t xit 
to the water, and spoils the appearance of this natural 
bason, requiring nothing more to restore it to its 
former situation than carefully to close the opening at 
the bottom, when the water as before would rise to 
meet its own level. 

As all those springs show more or less the same 
sensible qualities, and as is was too arduous an un- 
dertaking to make a chemical analysis of each, I 
chose out two which seemed to be most generally 
preferred, and whose obvious qualities were the most 
remarkable; these are the Congress Spring and the 
Flat Rock: indeed with respect to the Congress 
Spring there seems to be no difference of opinion, 
its taste and physical qualities are sufficient to dis- 
tinguish it. I have therefore bestowed particular 
attention to its analysis, from a comparison of which 
with the waters of Ballston, important inferences with 
respect to their medical qualities shall be drawn 
hereafter. 

I shall first commence with the analysis of Lowe's 
Well at Ballston; from this I shall proceed to he 
analysis of the Public Well at the same place, which 



22 Description of Balhton and Saratoga. 

will be followed by observations on their comparative 
contents. 

To this will succeed a particular analysis of 
the Congress Spring at Saratoga, as well as of 
the Flat Rock, drawing such inferences from this 
analysis as will explain the particular qualities of 
each. 



23 



CHAPTER II. 

Chemical Analysis of Lowe's Well at Ballston — External 
Qualities of the Water — Temperature and Specific . 
Gravity. 

This water at the spring is constantly emitting a 
large quantity of gas which arises from the bottom 
of the well, and passing in bubbles through it, break 
on the surface. This gas proves fatal to animal life. 
Birds or fishes, if suspended over it for a few minutes, 
are immediately killed. 

The temperature of the water is uniformly 52° of 
Fahrenheit; I never perceived the smallest variation 
when the thermometer in the open air was at 90°; 
and I am informed that during the coldest weather in 
winter, its temperature is invariably the same, for 
which reason at this season a thick steam is perceived 
over the well. 

I took considerable pains to ascertain its specific 
gravity by a variety of methods, and after repeated 
trials with the most accurate hydrometer, I found it 
to be to that of distilled water as 1008 to 1000, the 
temperature of both being 60 degrees. 

This also coincided with experiments made with 
a phial bottle, calculated to hold exactly 1000 grains 
of distilled water when the glass stopper, which was 
finely ground, was fastened in it. Repeated trials 



24 Chemical Analysis of 

with a most accurate balance, the water being at the 
temperature' of 60°, gave the specific gravity of 
Lowe's Well precisely as before — 1008; and it will 
be seen when I come to describe the waters of Sara- 
toga, how useful this method of examining a water 
may be to the chemist, as the proportion of saline 
ingredients may, in some measure, be estimated by 
its specific gravity. 

When this water is first taken from the well in a 
glass, it is perfectly clear and transparent. It emits a 
number of air bubbles, and sparkles a little when 
poured from one glass into another. If let remain in 
the glass for a few minutes, the gas which is extri- 
cated from it, especially in hot weather, adheres in 
the form of innumerable air bubbles to the inside 
surface of the glass. If the water is let stand for some 
time in a glass vessel, these air bubbles continue to 
increase in quantity; in a few minutes the water loses 
its transparency, a slight pellicle appears first on its 
surface which has somewhat of an irridescent ap- 
pearance, by degrees the water becomes perfectly 
opaque, the pellicle falls to the bottom, which, as 
well as the sides of the glass, is coated with a light 
brown powder, which adheres firmly to the glass. 
The water then by degrees recovers its former trans- 
parency, but has totally lost its agreeable pungent 
taste; it is now perfectly vapid, and has no other taste 
but that of a solution of salt in water. 

When a glass of the water is just taken from the 
well, it has a saline and pungent taste, with an evi- 



Lowers Well at Ballston. 25 

dent chalybeate quality which is far from disagree- 
able; on the contrary, though so highly saline, those 
who are accustomed to it, drink it as a most agree- 
able beverage. The pungency of it is so great as to 
affect the palate somewhat like bottled liquor, and the 
first effect of it on the system is to produce a slight 
giddiness, and a certain degree of exhilaration of 
spirits. These qualities of it have not escaped the 
notice of those who reside in its neighbourhood, and 
have fortunately sufficient attractions to supersede in 
some degree the baneful use of spirituous liquors. 
In corroboration of this, I was assured by a high 
military character,* that when part of the American 
army was quartered in the district during the revolu^ 
tionary war, the soldiers became so attached to this 
water, that during their stay a much less quantity of 
spirits was drank by the men, and that fewer in- 
stances of drunkenness came to the knowledge of 
their officers. 

But these effects, which render the waters so 
agreeable, soon disappear, and are not peculiar to 
this spring, as all waters highly impregnated with 
carbonic acid gas have more or less the same qualities, 
followed by other symptoms of a very different 
nature, according to the quantity and quality of 
those substances with which they are impreg- 
nated. 

* General Humphreys, 

D 



2$ Chemical Analysis of 

The celebrated Dr. Hoffman, whose experience 
on this subject has been extremely extensive, when 
speaking of the carburated chalybeates of Lauchstadt 
in Germany, describes their effects in the following 
words: 

" Non raro contigit, ut aqua nostra primum 
maxime ab insuetis pota, nauseam, vomitum, 
inflationes, dolores circa praecordia, capitis gravidi- 
tatem, somnolentiam . . . suscitat; sed .... con- 
tinuato usu, et pervadente aqua, omnia sponte 
evanescunt." 

These few lines which I have quoted give so ac- 
curate a description of the first effects of such waters 
on the system, that I feel no necessity of adding 
to it. 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 27 



Examination of the Contents of the Water by 
tests or reagents. 

Experiment I. 
Litmus Paper when dipped into the water of the 
well at the fountain, has its colour immediately 
changed to red, but this colour is fugacious; nor 
will the water when boiled produce any such effect, 
a decisive proof that this change was produced by 
the presence of a large quantity of uncombined car- 
bonic acid, and not by a fixed acid. 

Experiment II. 
Paper stained with Turmeric is not changed in 
colour by this water when fresh from the spring, nor 
could it be expected, for though we shall find here- 
after earthy carbonats, yet they are suspended by 
such an excess of carbonic acid as to repress the 
effect of this test. 

Experiment III. 
Lime Water produces an immediate turbidness 
and a precipitation when added to this water, yet a 
variety of circumstances are here to be attended to. 
This water contains such a quantity of carbonic acid 
gas, that if it is added in too large a quantity, the 
lime which is at first precipitated, is almost immedi- 
ately redissolved by the excess of carbonic acid. The 



\ 



28 Chemical Analysis of 

directions which are usually given are, that the lime 
water should be added in equal quantity; this is here, 
however, too great a proportion; the first effect is 
certainly a white cloud, but it is immediately redis- 
solved, and the solution, as long as the bottle remains 
closed, continues clear. 

In order to insure a complete and permanent pre- 
cipitation of the lime water, one part of this mineral 
water to three parts of lime water is sufficient. A 
tolerable accurate estimate may be made in this 
manner of the quantity of carbonic acid in a mineral 
water. 

I do not know that this circumstance has been 
before attended to, but it is evident from the above 
experiment, that the greater the quantity of carbonic 
acici gas which is contained in a mineral water, the 
less of that water is required to decompose a given 
quantity of lime water. Thus, waters containing little 
carbonic acid require to be added in the proportion 
of three parts to one; but water containing its own 
bulk of carbonic acid, (as we shall find that this does) 
requires only to be added in the proportion of one 
part to three of lime water, in order to produce the 
same effect; so that this observation cannot be with- 
out its use in forming a judgment of the quantity of 
carbonic acid gas which is contained in a mineral 
water. 

Another method has been proposed by Dr. Pear- 
son, by Gioanetti, and others; and Dr. Garnett, in 
his able Analysis of Harrowgate Waters, has applied 






Lowe's Well at Ballston. 29 

it to this purpose, by weighing #the precipitate, cal- 
culating the quantity of carbonic acid in each grain 
of lime, and comparing this with the weight of a 
cubic inch of carbonic acid gas; however, this re- 
quires so minute a calculation that it is difficult to 
apply it with advantage, even if it was not liable to 
the very serious objection of want of accuracy from 
the circumstance of lime water being precipitated by 
other gases as well as by alkaline salts, which are not 
unfrequently found in mineral waters. 

Experiment IV. 
Tincture of Galls, when poured into this water, 
strikes an immediate purple colour, which after 
standing for a short time increases in intensity, and 
a precipitate, nearly black, falls to the bottom of the 
glass. 

Experiment V. 
Prussiat of Potash, a few drops of this poured 
into a glass of the water fresh drawn from the spring, 
changes it immediately to a green colour, which 
gradually becomes blue; and on standing for some 
hours, deposits a light blue sediment; neither this, 
or the former test, produce any change after the 
water has been boiled and filtered, or even exposed for 
some hours to the atmosphere. The prussiat which 
I used on this occasion was prepared by Vauquelin, 
and had been previously crystallized. A variety of 
circumstances, however, satisfied me that this water 



30 Chemical Analysis of 

contained more ironnhan this test indicated; I sus- 
pected that the quantity of alkaline earths which it 
contained repressed the effect of it: a few drops of 
muriatic acid were therefore previously thrown into 
a glass of the water; this combining with the car- 
bonats, produced an immediate effervescence; when 
those were saturated, the prussiat of potash was 
applied; a very sensible difference both in the colour 
and quantity of the precipitate then took place; a very 
dense blue cloud being immediately produced. 

It is necessary, however, to be certain that the 
marine acid is perfectly pure, as it is extremely diffi- 
cult to procure it free from iron. This can easily be 
ascertained by previously dropping into it a little of 
the prussiat of potash. 

These tests decide the presence of a consider, 
able quantity of iron in this water, and also show 
that it is held in solution entirely by the carbonic 
acid. 

A person who has much experience on this sub- 
ject, and has been in the habit of making those ex- 
periments, can judge with some degree of correct- 
ness of the quantity of iron which is held in solution 
in a mineral water, as well by the intensity of the 
colour, which is produced by prussiat of potash, as 
by the quantity of the precipitate. 

Experiment VI. 
Solution of Acetat of Lead, when dipped into this 
water, produces an immediate white cloud and a pre- 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 31 

cipitation at the bottom of the glass. This may have 
arisen from sulphuric or marine acid, or from alka- 
line earths or salts combined with carbonic acid; 
however, it is not difficult to determine which of 
these substances were the cause of the precipitation. 
This was first by saturating those alkalies with a 
little nitric acid, still the same precipitation took 
place; it was then evident that the precipitation was 
occasioned either by the sulphuric or marine acid or 
by both; to decide this, I collected the precipitate 
and found it was wholly soluble in distilled vinegar. 
It therefore was not sulphuric acid, as sulphat of 
lead is entirely insoluble in distilled vinegar, while 
muriat of lead is totally soluble in this menstruum. 
It must of course have been occasioned by marine 
acid, which, we shall find by the following experi- 
ment, is present in large quantity in a state of 
combination. 

Experiment VII. 
Solution of Silver in Nitric Acid. When a few drops 
of this solution is poured into a glass of the water, 
an immediate white and ponderous precipitate falls 
down to the bottom of the glass, which after stand- 
ing some hours changes to a light brown colour. 
This dark colour is certainly owing to a very small 
quantity of sulphurated hydrogen gas, of which this 
change of colour is one of the nicest tests, yet so 
minute as not to be collected in a separate state, but 
still frequently sensible to the smell; however as the 



32 Chemical Analysis of 

vapour of vegetable decayed matter, dissolved in 
water according to Klaproth, is apt to give a decep- 
tive indication of sulphurated hydrogen, I am dis- 
posed to attribute it to this, particularly as the situa- 
tion of the spring is such, in the vicinity of a peat 
morass, that it may receive its impregnation from it. 
The precipitate, however, occasioned by the nitrate 
of silver, which is very abundant both before and 
after the water has been boiled, is undoubtedly 
owing to a large quantity of marine acid in a state 
of combination. 

Experiment VIII. 
Nitrat of Mercury, immediately produces a white 
cloud and precipitate when poured into the water. 
This test is an additional proof of the presence of 
marine acid, and it is said by Plaff to be even a nicer 
test than nitrat of silver, though as it is precipitated 
by other substances, it should not alone be relied 
upon. 

Experiment IX. 
Muriat of Barytes, produces no change in the 
appearance of the water when first taken from the 
spring, nor after it has been boiled for some time, 
and by this means deprived of its carbonic acid and 
earthy carbonats; neither has nitrat of barytes or 
muriat of strontian the slightest effect on the water. 
These are decisive proofs that it contains no salts 
combined with sulphuric acid, a circumstance ex- 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 33 

tremely uncommon, as few even of the common well 
waters in any country are free from gypsum or sul- 
phuric acid in some state of combination. 

Experiment X. 
Oxalat of Ammonia produces an immediate cloud 
and precipitate in this water when fresh taken from 
the spring, and has the same effect, though in a very 
slight degree, when applied after the water has been 
boiled for some time; this show'* that carbonat of 
lime is held in solution partly by the carbonic acid 
and partly by a mineral acid. 

Experiment XI. 
Sulphuric Acid. When a few drops of this acid 
are poured into a glass of the water, an immediate 
and brisk effervescence takes place, from the extrica- 
tion of carbonic acid gas; in a short time the colour 
of the water is changed, and after standing for an 
hour a white powder is deposited on the bottom and 
sides of the glass; this powder was evidently sulphat 
of lime, as nitric and muriatic acid produce the 
same effervescence and extrication of gas, but no 
deposition takes place nor is the transparency of the 
water changed, these acids forming soluble salts with 
the earths which are contained in this water. 

Experiment XII. 
Carbonat of Ammonia^ produces no effect when 
added to the water fresh from the spring. 

E 



34 Chemical Analysis of 

Experiment XIII. 

Carbonat of Potash, does not disturb the transpa- 
rency of the water. 

Experiment XIV. 

Pure Ammonia, causes an immediate cloud in 
the water when added to it fresh from the spring, 
and a copious flocculent precipitation takes place; this 
it does by taking up the excess of carbonic acid 
which holds the earths suspended, and becoming 
itself carbonated; but when a mild alkali is employed, 
no such effect is produced, as has been seen in the 
previous experiment. 

Pure Potash has precisely the same effect, and 
for the same reason; but when a few drops more of 
potash are added and the glass stirred, the white 
cloud disappears and the precipitate is redissolved, 
for the same reason that calcarious earth is dissolved 
in lime water; in this case an excess of pure potash 
deprives the lime of its carbonic acid, and therefore 
it becomes soluble again. 

These were the principal reagents with which I 
commenced my enquiry. Superfluous trials were 
unnecessary, and heaping experiments upon experi- 
ments, without any apparent design, tends only to 
perplex rather than to convince upon any rational 
grounds. 

It was now necessary to make a few experiments 
on the water after it had been boiled. I therefore 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 35 

boiled down three pints of the water till it was re- 
duced one third, and till the iron and earths which 
were suspended by carbonic acid were wholly pre- 
cipitated. 

The following tests were then made use of. 

Experiment XV. 
Sulphuric Acid now neither produces any effer- 
vescence nor is there any precipitation. 

Experiment XVI. 
Paper stained with litmus is not changed in colour. 

Experiment XVII. 
Paper stained with turmeric, has its colour chang- 
ed to an orange brown, showing the presence of a 
minute quantity of an alkaline salt, this being the 
distinguishing and most delicate test imaginable of 
an alkali; but fixed alkalis, according to Kir wan, 
are incompatible with earthy salts; and if common 
salt, according to Bergman, be accompanied with 
fixed alkalies in any proportion, then all earthy salts 
must be absent; but as we have ascertained already 
the presence of a large quantity of earthy carbonats, 
fixed alkaline salts were not to be expected here, but 
in very minute quantity. 

r 

Experiment XVIII. 
In order to ascertain whether any magnesian salt 
was present, I made use of the method proposed by 



36 Chemical Analysis of 

Dr. Wollaston to detect it. To a glass of this water 
sufficiently concentrated by boiling, I added a little 
carbonat of ammonia; no precipitate took place, as 
carbonat of ammonia has not the property of precipi- 
tating magnesia from its compounds; but on adding 
a solution of phosphat of soda, a white cloud imme- 
diately appeared, and a flocculent precipitate was 
thrown down, which was magnesia, forming an inso- 
luble triple salt, with the phosphoric acid and am- 
monia. 

Experiment XIX. 
Pure ammonia produces no cloud when the water 
is boiled, which shows that it is not so delicate a test 
of magnesia as that pointed out by Dr. Wollaston, in 
the former experiment. 

Experiment XX. 
Nitrat of silver and mild nitrat of mercury, affect 
the water in the same manner as when fresh from 
the well. 

Experiment XXL 
Oxalat of ammonia scarcely produces any effect, 

Experiment XXII. 
Tincture of Galls and Prussiat of Potash, alter in 
no degree the transparency of the water. 



Lowers Well at Ballston. 37 



Inferences to be drawn from the above experi- 
ments. 

Though the use of tests or reagents afford no cer- 
tain conclusion of the exact proportion of any sub- 
stance which a mineral water contains, yet they 
determine with accuracy what are the principal in- 
gredients in it; and the experienced chemist, who 
has been accustomed to such experiments, is enabled 
to judge even of their quantity with some degree of 
accuracy. By this means his future experiments are 
conducted with more precision, and when he pro- 
ceeds to evaporation, much time and labour is 
spared in looking for those substances which he 
had previously ascertained by reagents were not 
present. 

Thus having found by reagents, that this water 
contains marine acid combined with a base in large 
quantity, and by Experiment IX. that not the least 
appearance of sulphuric acid can be traced, our ex- 
periments for this purpose, after evaporation, become 
much more simplified. 

Having also discovered by Experiments IV. and V. 
that iron is present in this water, and ascertained 
that it was held in solution by the carbonic acid, it 
was in vain after evaporation to look for any me- 
tallic salt, and we have only to determine the 
quantity of iron which is thus suspended. 



38 Chemical Analysis of 

Experiments I. and III. have shown the pre- 
sence of a large quantity of carbonic acid gas; 
they also decide that this water is supersaturated 
with this gas, or holds a quantity of it in a free 
state. 

Experiments V. and X. have decided that both iron 
and lime are held in solution by this gas. 

We have also found that magnesia is present in 
this water, partly suspended by the carbonic acid 
and partly by a fixed acid. 

It now remains by evaporation and more direct 
experiments to confirm these, as well as to determine 
the quantity of each substance in a given portion of 
the water. For this purpose I commenced with a few 
preliminary experiments. 



Lowers Well at Ballston, 



39 



Examination of the Gaseous Contents, 

As many of the most important effects of the 
waters both of Ballston and Saratoga arise from the 
gas with which they are impregnated, there was no 
part of the analysis to which my attention was more 
particularly directed. 

At such a distance as Ballston from any place 
where a mercurial pneumatic apparatus was to be 
obtained, I was obliged to have recourse to more 
simple methods of analysis. 

Different methods suggested themselves to me, 
but after repeated trials and mature deliberation, I 
found that the instrument which I shall now describe 
and a plate of which is here annexed, was the most 
simple and accurate. 




A. A graduated bottle placed over the tube of the tin vessel, 

B. The rim of the vessel which retains the water. 

C. The handle of the vessel. 

D. The tin vessel calculated to hold one quart of water. 



40 Chemical Analysis of 

This instrument has been highly approved of by 
Professors Cox and Cooper, and I hope may be 
found useful by those who are led to prosecute such 
experiments. 

I procured a tin vessel which was calculated to 
hold exactly one quart or 57-750 cubic inches of 
water; a cover was soldered on it, and no opening left 
except one at the top, one third of an inch in diame- 
ter, to which was soldered a tin tube near half an inch 
long and of the same dimensions as the opening. To 
the upper edge of the vessel was soldered a sheet of 
tin about four inches high, which went round the 
vessel and retained any water that escaped during 
the process of boiling. This vessel was filled with 
water at the well to the top of the tube, and imme- 
diately after, a decanter of rain water heated to the 
temperature at least of 120, was placed over it; this 
decanter having previously been graduated with 
great care into cubic inches, which were marked 
with a file on the outside. The vessel was then placed 
on a steady fire, and heat applied sufficient to boil 
the water in it. In a very few minutes gas was seen 
to arise from the water in the vessel, which, having 
no other place to escape, passed up into the decanter 
which was placed on it, and was there collected, as 
water of so high a temperature as that in the bottle 
was incapable of absorbing any of it. This extrica- 
tion of gas took place very rapidly; and as the water 
was displaced from the decanter, it was collected and 
retained by the tin rim which was attached to the 



Lowers Well at Ballston. 41 

cover of the vessel. By this means the bottle may 
be removed and another applied during the pro- 
cess. 

When the whole of the gas was extricated, the 
bottle was taken off and placed on a small vessel of 
rain water, till the expansion of the gas by heat was 
reduced to the temperature of 60. Having made 
repeated trials in this manner, I found that the whole 
of the gas which was extricated from one quart of 
the water amounted to 63 cubic inches, which was 
nearly six cubic inches more than its own bulk, a 
quantity which as yet, as far as I can find, has never 
before been detected in any water. According to the 
synoptical table given by Dr. Saunders, and I know 
no better authority, none of the numerous mineral 
waters which he describes are stated to contain their 
own bulk of gas. Pyrmont, Seltzer, and Spa, are 
said to contain the most, and none of them exceed 
52 cubic inches to the quart. 

To ascertain the nature of this gas, I passed it 
repeatedly through fresh lime water; and after the 
bottle had remained in a vessel of lime water till no 
farther absorption took place, I found the whole had 
been taken up except 2 J cubic inches, which I af- 
terwards examined by a lighted taper and found it 
incapable of supporting flame; of course as it escaped 
the action of lime I concluded it to be azotic gas. 
This gas, which has been only lately detected in 
mineral waters, is but sparingly soluble in water, 

F 



42 Chemical Analysis of 

and in a medicinal point of view, it is not suspected 
to possess any particular qualities. The importance, 
however, of carbonic acid, both as a menstruum 
in suspending various substances, as well as its 
qualities in medicine when water is highly satu- 
rated with it, demands our more particular atten- 
tion. 

From the above experiments, it will be seen 
that one quart of the water of Lowe's Well con- 
tains of 

Cubic Inches. 
Carbonic acid gas - 60J 

Azotic gas ----- 2^ 



63 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 43 



Examination of the substances held in solution bij 
Carbonic Acid. 

In order to collect those substances which were 
suspended in the water, or rather held in solution by 
the carbonic acid, and to obtain them separately for 
examination, I boiled two pints of the water in a 
glazed earthen vessel for a quarter of an hour. 

When the water became heated, air bubbles be- 
gan to arise in great abundance; the water then be- 
came turbid, a pellicle appeared on its surface, and 
as the carbonic acid was expelled, a light brown 
powder was deposited; it was then let cool and after- 
wards filtered with great care. When the whole of 
this powder was collected from the filter and dried in 
a temperature somewhat above 150, I found that it 
weighed exactly 9 J grains. 

This powder, consisting of the earths and iron 
which former experiments proved were held in solu- 
tion by the carbonic acid, it now became necessary 
to examine. 

It was accordingly exposed for three weeks to the 
sun, and frequently moistened in order to reduce the 
iron to the highest state of oxydation. Distilled 
vinegar was then poured on it, when a smart effer- 
vescence took place; it was let remain in a vial bottle 
for 24 hours, repeatedly stirring it and adding small 
quantities of distilled vinegar while any effervescence 



44 Chemical Analysis of 

continued, and till the whole of the earths were taken 
up. The solution was then filtered, and the residuum 
which resisted the action of the acid was dried in a 
dull red heat; it then weighed only one grain; it was of 
a dark red colour, and was of course an oxyd of iron 
or rather a peroxyde; being, according to Chenevix, 
in the 4 th or highest state of oxydizement; in this state 
it is not magnetic, and according to his statement it 
weighs as 189 to 100 of metallic iron. 

The solution in distilled vinegar was now evapo- 
rated slowly in a glass dish over a lamp till dry, 
when a confused filamentous crystallization took 
place. It was then dissolved in a sufficient quantity 
of distilled water, and submitted to the following 
experiments. 

The chief purport of these experiments was to 
ascertain whether the precipitate, consisting of 8|, 
which had been taken up by the distilled vinegar, 
was carbonate of lime or magnesia, or both. Ac- 
cordingly, to a small portion of it was added a few 
drops of oxalat of ammonia; an immediate white 
cloud appeared; when to another portion a few drops 
of sulphuric acid was added, an immediate deposi- 
tion of sulphat of lime took place. This decides the 
presence of carbonat of lime in the solution. 

To another portion, pure ammonia was added, but 
no change took place; this shows that neither mag- 
nesia nor alumen were present, as, according to 
Thomson, pure ammonia precipitates these two 
earths, but no others. Lime water also remained 



Lowers Well at Balls ton. 45 

unchanged when added to a part of this solution. 
This is another proof of the absence of magnesia .^nd 
alumen, as it oidy precipitates these two earths pro- 
vided no carbonic acid is present. 

It therefore appears that the whole of the earth 
which was deposited by boiling one quart of the 
water, was carbonat of lime, and that it amounted 
only to 8 1 grains; and that the whole of the iron 
which fell down from the same quantity was one 
grain. Small as this quantity of iron appears to be, 
it was much more than was indicated by tests, and 
fully as much as could be held in solution by the 
quantity of carbonic acid which the water con- 
tains. 

Having tried many methods of obtaining the 
whole of the iron in a given quantity of water, I 
found none more effectual than the above. Experi- 
ments of this kind frequently repeated lead to many 
useful practical results; but if it is expected to ob- 
tain the whole of the earths by merely boiling the 
water, it will be seen hereafter that it cannot be 
done. Here I conceived that I had obtained them 
all, and that a quart of water only contained 8| 
grains of carbonat of lime, when in fact this was 
scarcely one third of the quantity of earths which it 
contained, as will be seen hereafter. 

In accounting for this, it may be observed that the 
iron is held in solution by carbonic acid with much 
less force than the earths, and therefore that it is the 



46 Chemical Analysis of 

first to precipitate, which it does even without heat, 
as may be seen when the water is exposed to the 
atmosphere. Next falls the lime; and last of all, the 
magnesia, which is so much more soluble that the 
greater part of it is not precipitated by mere boiling 
the water, nor will the whole be collected till the 
evaporation is nearly finished. 

We have now to conclude, from the above ex- 
periments, that 9 1 grains of solid contents precipi- 
tated from merely boiling and filtering the water 
consists of 

Grains. 

Oxyd of iron - 1 

Carbonat of lime - - - - 8£ 



n 



Lowers Well at Ballston. 47 



Examination of the Solid Contents of Ballston 
Water collected by evaporation. 

It would not be difficult to form a tolerable accu- 
rate judgment of the contents of this water from 
the description which I have already given, and from 
the tests which have been applied; but no certain 
conclusion can be drawn of the proportion in which 
the several substances exist in a given quantity of 
the water, without submitting it to evaporation, and 
separately examining those substances. 

With this intention I now proceeded to evapora- 
tion. One quart or 57-750 cubic inches from Lowe's 
Well was placed in a flat Wedgwood's dish. This 
dish was placed in a sand bath over a steady fire, and 
heat gradually applied, but never so high as to reach 
the boiling point. As soon as the water was heated 
to about 90, the same appearances took place as have 
been previously described; first a considerable extri- 
cation of gas took place, then a pellicle appeared on 
its surface followed by a deposition on the bottom 
and sides of the vessel, which increased as the eva- 
poration went on, and assumed, during the progress 
of it, a brown colour. The process continued for four 
hours, till the water became gelatinous, and crystals 
resembling common salt, began to appear, which, as 
they formed, fell down to the bottom. I allowed the 
whole mass to crystallize together till it assumed the 



48 Chemical Analysis of 

appearance of a light brown powder, which, when 
collected and dried in a heat somewhat less than that 
of boiling water, was found to weigh precisely 72 
grains. 

This powder, when exposed to the atmosphere, 
showed no signs of deliquescence, nor was it sensi- 
bly increased in weight. 

As the degree of heat which is used in desicca- 
tion of the precipitate is of great importance, it is 
necessary to observe, that on every occasion I made 
use of a lamp or tin vessel, as described by Dr. 
Marcet in his analysis of Brighton water; and having 
repeatedly evaporated the water of this well during 
my stay, both in dry and in wet weather, I scarcely 
ever found a deviation of more than a grain in the 
quantity of solid contents which were obtained when 
desiccated in the manner I have described. 

This powder, weighing 72 grains, being the 
whole solid contents from one quart of water, was 
digested in a sufficient quantity of alkohol for twenty- 
four hours, shaking the phial repeatedly, and assist- 
ing the solution by a gentle heat, having previously 
determined the strength of the alkohol by ascertain- 
ing its specific gravity, which I found to be 825. 
The solution was then filtered; and I found, after 
drying the residuum in the same manner, that it 
weighed only 65 grains; so that the alkohol had taken 
up 7 grains. 

The residuum, which had escaped the action of 
alkohol, weighing 65 grains, was now digested for 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 49 

some time in a sufficient quantity of distilled water, 
till a complete solution of whatever salts it contained 
had taken place. This solution was then filtered, and 
a light brown powder was left on the filter, which, 
when dried, was found to weigh exactly 22 grains; 
so that the aqueous solution contained 43 grains. 
This powder, weighing 22 grains, which resisted 
the action of alkohol, and was insoluble in eight 
times its weight of distilled water, was nearly simi- 
lar to that which was before obtained by filtration 
from the same quantity of water that had been only 
boiled for a short time. In both these cases it had 
been held in solution by the gases, or had been 
mechanically suspended in the water; but as the 
quantity obtained by evaporation amounted to 22 
grains, while only 9f grains were deposited after 
boiling, we may infer that the whole of the earths 
are not precipitated till the evaporation is nearly con- 
cluded, as I have before observed. 

It now became necessary to examine this powder; 
and having, from previous experiments, ascertained 
that it could be nothing more than carbonat of lime 
or carbonat of magnesia, or both, combined with a 
small quantity of oxyd of iron, nothing more was 
required than to determine the proportion of each. 
A variety of methods presented themselves; one of 
them would have been very easy, viz. the precipita- 
tion of the lime by oxalat of ammonia, and calcu- 
lating by the weight of the precipitate of oxalat of 
lime, what proportion of carbonat of lime the residu- 

G 



50 Chemical Analysis of 

urn contained. But it must be recollected that oxalic 
acid precipitates also magnesia, and forms with it an 
insoluble cempound, though perhaps not with the 
same facility that it does lime, yet still it is impossi- 
ble to prevent its action. 

I had, therefore, recourse to a method which I 
had, from repeated experiments, found easy and suf- 
ficiently correct. 

The residuum which had been exposed to the 
rays of the sun for a fortnight, and frequently 
moistened, assumed a dark brown colour from the 
perfect state of oxydation which took place in that 
part of it which consisted of oxyd of iron. It was 
then digested in distilled vinegar for several hours, 
while any effervescence continued, and until the 
whole of the carbonats were taken up, which was 
sufficiently ascertained by watching the progress 
with litmus paper. 

I must here observe, that distilled vinegar, though 
of the purest kind, is slow in its operation; it holds 
but little of the earths in solution, and it is requisite 
to continue adding small quantities of the acid, while 
the least appearance of effervescence takes place. 

I found, by examining the solution with prussiat 
of potash, that it gave scarcely any appearance of 
iron, its high state of oxygenation rendering it inso- 
luble in distilled vinegar. 

The whole of this was then poured upon a filter, 
and a small quantity of a red powder, which was in- 
soluble in the distilled vinegar, was now carefully 



Lowers Well at Balls ton* 51 

collected, and having been dried in a heat of about 
200, was found to weigh one grain. This agrees with 
former experiments, and satisfactorily proves that 
one quart of the water of Lowe's Well contains, 

Of oxyd of iron - - - 1 grain. 

We shall now proceed to examine the three dif- 
ferent solutions in order to estimate their contents, 
and to calculate the proportion of the different sub- 
stances which exist in a quart of water. 



Examination of the Solution in Alkohol. 

This solution may contain muriat of lime and 
muriat of magnesia, sulphat of iron, or nitrats of 
lime and magnesia. The two first of these salts were 
those which we were now to look for, having previ- 
ously ascertained their presence. Sulphat of iron, we 
have already ascertained, does not exist; and nitrats 
of any kind were not to be expected. 

It would have been easy, in this case, to determine 
the quantity of muriat of lime which was present, by 
decomposing the muriat and precipitating the lime 
by oxalat of ammonia, and calculating by the weight 
of the precipitate of oxalat of lime, what proportion 
of it was equivalent to any quantity of muriat of lime 



52 Chemical Analysis of 

which was contained in it. This method was used 
with success by Dr. Murray, in his very able analysis 
of the waters of Dunblane; but in that case he had 
previously ascertained that the water did not contain 
magnesia, and that as the whole of the salts were 
muriat of soda and muriat of lime, the latter 
would be easily separated by the oxalat of am- 
monia. 

This mineral water being, however, of a more 
compound nature, and containing both carbonats of 
lime and magnesia as well as muriats of both, the 
same mode of analysis could not be pursued. 

In order to examine this solution, I proceeded to 
evaporation in a glass vessel over a lamp, till an ap- 
pearance of crystallization took place, and continued 
the heat to dryness. The taste of this was saline and 
acrid, and on exposure to the air it became deli- 
quescent. A few drops of sulphuric acid were now 
applied to this residuum, placed in the bottom of a 
Florence flask over a lamp; immediately the fumes 
of muriatic acid appeared, which, on raising the heat, 
were all expelled, and the heat was continued till any 
excess of sulphuric acid was expelled. 

A small quantity of distilled water was then added 
to the dry mass, sufficient to take up any sulphat of 
magnesia which may have been present. It was then 
filtered, and the sulphat of lime, which fell to the 
bottom, was collected on the filter, when dried with 
a strong heat was found to weigh 6| grains; which, 
accoiding to Bergman, would have been produced 



Lowers Well at Ballston. 53 

from the decomposition of 4 J of muriat of lime, so 
that deducting this from the 7 grains which the 
alkohoHc solution contained, leaves 2| grains of mu- 
riat of magnesia, converted now into a sulphat, and 
soluble in the distilled water. However, to ascertain 
that this did contain sulphat of magnesia, I poured 
a few drops of pure ammonia into it, when an im- 
mediate precipitation of magnesia took place. 

Thus we have ascertained that the solution in 
alkohol contained, of 



Grains. 

H 

Muriat of magnesia - 2| 



Muriat of lime 4-1 

4 



Examination of the Solution in Distilled Water. 

This solution, which consisted of 43 grains of 
saline contents, was examined in the following 
manner: 

Upon being evaporated very slowly in a glass 
vessel nearly to dryness, the whole of it crystallized, 
forming beautiful cubic crystals, which had the taste 
and appearance of common salt. To determine the 
nature of this salt, a few drops of concentrated sul- 
phuric acid was poured on some of it, when the 
peculiar smell and smoke which was produced, in- 



54 Chemical Analysis of 

dicated the presence of muriatic acid. A few grains 
of the salt was now dissolved in distilled water; to 
this was added a few drops of nitrat of silver, when 
a thick white cloud was immediately produced, so 
that no doubt could arise of this salt being the muriat 
of soda or common salt. 

A little of this salt was then dissolved in water, to 
which a few drops of muriat of barytes were added, 
but no change took place; which showed that no salt, 
containing the sulphuric acid, was present; neither 
pure ammonia or phosphat of soda, after carbonat 
of ammonia, when dropped into a solution of this salt, 
produced any cloud; which showed the total absence 
of magnesia. 

Oxalic acid produced no change when added to it, 
which shows that no lime was present. 

It therefore follows, that the whole of the contents 
of the aqueous solution was muriat of soda, and 
that one quart of the water of the well contains, 



Of muriat of soda, or ? . « 

common salt, J «8 grain.. 



Lowe's Well at Ballston. 55 



Examination of the Solution in Distilled Vinegar. 

The residuum which had escaped the action of 
alkohol and of distilled water, we have seen weighed 
22 grains; having submitted this to the action of 
distilled vinegar, we have found that the whole of it 
was dissolved except one grain, which proved to be 
an oxyd of iron. 

The solution in distilled vinegar, it now only be- 
came necessary to examine. It was accordingly eva- 
porated slowly to dryness, when it left a filamentous 
substance which had a bitter acrid taste, and was 
deliquescent when exposed for a few days to the 
atmosphere. This decided what I had indeed pre- 
viously proved, that it contained not only lime, but 
magnesia. I therefore took the whole residuum and 
dissolved it in a small quantity of distilled water. I 
then added a few drops of sulphuric acid, which 
instantly caused a turbid appearance. This acid was 
added as long as any precipitation took place. It was 
then filtered, and by filtration I obtained 20 grains of 
a white powder, which was selenite or sulphat of 
lime. Now as, according to Bergman, 100 parts of 
selenite contain 34 of pure lime, the 20 grains which 
we have here obtained would amount to about 7§ of 
pure lime, which is equivalent to 13 § of carbonat of 
lime, the state in which it is found in this water. 

The remainder of the solution was then evapo- 



56 Chemical Analysis of 

rated and crystallized, and found by its taste and crys- 
tallization to be sulphat of magnesia. The 13 \ grains 
being subtracted from 21 grains, which the solution 
in distilled vinegar contained, leaves 7|; we have 
therefore to calculate that this solution contained 

Grains. 

Garbonat of lime - - - - 13| 
Carbonat of magnesia - - - - ^i 

Total, 2 1 grains. 

The analysis having been in this manner com- 
pleted, the whole solid contents obtained from one 
quart of the water from Lowe's Well, may now be 
stated as follows: 



Of muriat of soda 


Grains. 
43 


Carbonat of lime 


- - 13| 


Carbonat of magnesia 
Muriat of lime - 


• - n 

- - H 


Muriat of magnesia 
Oxyd of iron - 


- - H 
i 



Total, 72 grains. 
Of aeriform fluids: 

Cubic Inches. 
Carbonic acid gas - 60| 

Azotic gas ------ 2| 

63 



the Public Well at Ballston. 57 



Analysis of the Public Well at Ballston. 

The sensible qualities of this well are in every 

respect precisely similar to Lowe's Well, an account 

of which has been already given very fully. 

Its temperature is 52. 

Specific gravity as 1008 to 1000. 

The application of reagents produced exactly the 
same appearances in the water of this spring as I 
have described when treating of Lowe's Well; indi- 
cating, therefore, the presence of the same ingre- 
dients. As a repetition of these, here, would answer 
no useful purpose, I shall proceed to ascertain with 
precision the exact proportion of each ingredient as 
they appear after evaporation. 

But previous to evaporation, it was necessary to 
make such experiments as would determine the 
quantity and quality of the gaseous contents. The 
taste and appearance of the water gave me no reason 
to suspect that in this respect I should find much 
difference between these two springs, and I was not 
disappointed, for after having repeatedly expelled its 
gas in the same manner and with the same vessel 
which I have already described, I found that a quart 
of this water contained, 

Cubic Inches. 
Carbonic acid gas - - - 61 
Azote - 2i 



58 Chemical Analysis of 

A difference so trifling that it was scarcely per- 
ceptible , and should certainly be set down as of no 
consequence, as the same difference has taken place 
when examining the same waters at different times. 

A quart of this water was now submitted to eva- 
poration. The same extrication of gas took place 
when heat was applied; a pellicle of a light brown 
colour appeared on its surface, which soon fell to the 
bottom; the water then became turbid, and a pre- 
cipitation appeared, which gradually increased during 
the progress of evaporation. When the process was 
finished, and the whole of the residuum was col- 
lected and dried at nearly the temperature of 212, it 
was found to weigh 69 grains. 

These 69 grains were then submitted to the action 
of alkohol of as high specific gravity as 825. The 
solvent action of this fluid being assisted by the heat 
of the sun, and frequent agitation of the mixture, 
after being digested in this manner for 24 hours, it 
was then filtered, and the residuum which was col- 
lected on the filter and dried, was found then to 
weigh only 64 grains; so that the alkohol had taken 
up 5 grains. 

To these 64 grains I added eight times its weight 
of distilled water, assisting the solution by a very 
slight heat, and agitating the bottle till I conceived 
the water bad taken up the whole of the salts which 
were soluble in it. The mixture was then filtered, 
arid the residuum which was insoluble in water, 
when dried, was found to weigh precisely 22 grains. 



the Public Well at Ballston. 59 

These 22 grains I found, according to previous 
experiments, were the calcarious and magnesian 
earths combined with a portion of iron, and that they 
were held in solution in the water by an excess of 
carbonic acid. It was necessary to separate those 
earths, and to determine also the quantity of iron: 
for this purpose I proceeded as in the analysis of 
Lowe's Well. The residuum was exposed for two 
or three weeks to the rays of the sun, occasionally 
moistening it; by this means the iron became highly 
oxygenated, and it assumed a much darker colour; 
it was then submitted to the action of distilled vine- 
gar as long as any effervescence took place, and till 
nothing more could be dissolved. This solution was 
then filtered, and the residuum on the filter carefully 
collected and dried, when, as was the case in Lowe's 
Well, I now obtained one grain of oxyd of iron, the 
peroxyd or red oxyd of Thomson. 

We have now three solutions to examine, which 
are as follows: 1st, the solution in alkohol; 2d, that 
in distilled water; and 3d, that in distilled vinegar. 
Without repeating the whole of the reasoning in the 
analysis, I shall briefly attend to them. 

1st. The solution in alkohol was evaporated over 
a lamp to dryness, when it was found to weigh only 
5 grains; it was extremely deliquescent, and had an 
acrid taste. Reasoning from analogy as well as from 
experiment, I had no reason to doubt but this was 
either muriat of lime or muriat of magnesia, or per- 
haps both; but to determine this, it was dissolved in 



60 Chemical Analysis of 

distilled water, and a few drops of sulphuric acid was 
poured into the solution as long as any precipitate 
was thrown down. 

The mixture was then filtered, and a white pow- 
der collected, which was sulphat of lime. This was 
perfectly dried and weighed, and found to weigh only 
4£; which, according to Bergman, must have been 
produced by the decomposition of 3 J of muriat of 
lime; subtracting this from the 5 grains which the 
solution contained, leaves l|, the quantity of muriat 
of magnesia contained in a quart of water. 

2d. The solution in distilled water was next ex- 
amined. We have seen that it had taken up 42 grains 
of salts; to determine the qualities of this salt, was all 
that was required. The solution was accordingly 
evaporated slowly in a china vessel; as the evapora- 
tion went on, cubic crystals of salt appeared, which 
were apparently marine salt. The whole, when dried 
at the usual temperature, was collected, and weighed 
42 grains. That there should be no doubt of its 
character, I submitted it to the following experi- 
ments: a few drops of sulphuric acid were applied to 
a portion of it, when immediately the well known 
fumes of marine acid arose from it. A small quantity 
of this salt was dissolved in water, to which was 
added a few drops of nitrat of silver; a thick cloud 
immediately appeared. To another portion dissolved 
in water a few drops of muriat of bary tes was added, 
but no change took place; we see, therefore, that no 
sulphats or salts, containing the sulphuric acid, were 



the Public Well at Ballston. 61 

present; therefore we may venture to pronounce that 
the Public Well contains 42 grains of muriat of soda 
or common salt. 

We have now rinly the third solution to ex- 
amine. 

3d. This consisted of 21 grains, which the dis- 
tilled vinegar had taken up, after having resisted the 
action of alkohol and distilled water. This solution 
was evaporated till a confused filamentous crystal- 
lization took place. This substance was extremely 
bitter and acrid; after standing some time it was also 
found deliquescent, from which I judged it contained 
magnesia as well as lime. It was accordingly con- 
verted into an aqueous solution, and sulphuric acid 
dropped in while any precipitation took place. The 
sulphat of lime thus formed, was dried and weighed, 
when it was found to weigh only 15 grains. Now as 
100 parts of gypsum contains 34 of pure lime, the 
16 grains obtained in this case should contain about 
5 grains, which is equivalent to about 9 J grains of 
carbonat of lime. The clear solution, when nothing 
more could be precipitated, was afterwards crystal- 
lized, and regular crystals of sulphat of magnesia 
were obtained from it. We have now to conclude, 
that the solution in distilled vinegar consisted of 9} 
of carbonat of lime, and llf of carbonat of mag- 
nesia. 

The result of the analysis of the Public Well be- 
ing thus completed, I shall state the contents of the 



62 Chemical Analysis of 

different ingredients which have been found in one 
quart of the water, as follows: 



Muriat of soda 
Muriat of magnesia 
Muriat of lime 
Carbonat of magnesia 
Carbonat of lime 
Oxyd of iron 



Total, 



Grains. 
42 

4 

H 
11| 

H 
1 

69 



Of aeriform fluids: 

Carbonic acid gas 
Azotic gas 



Cubic Inches, 
61 

- H 



Total, 



631 



The two principal springs at Ballston having been 
thus examined with the utmost attention, I have 
given the result to the public in the most particular 
manner. Some surprise may be excited at the ex- 
treme similitude in the contents of each of these 
waters, but this is no uncommon circumstance. 

Springs at a much greater distance from each 
other than these, have frequently been found by 
analysis to possess precisely the same qualities. It 
would therefore be as invidious as it would be ab- 
surd in me, to draw any comparison between the 
medical qualities of these two springs; in fact, I know 



the Public Well at Ballston. 63 

of no difference. It has scarcely ever been found, that 
exactly the same results have been shown by any two 
chemists making experiments on the same water. In 
the present instance, the same substances have been 
found in each spring. Whatever slight difference 
has occurred in the proportion of those substances, 
should therefore rather be attributed to accidental 
causes, than placed to any other account leading to 
any serious comparison between them. 



64 Chemical Analysis of 



Chemical Analysis of the Congress Spring at 
Saratoga. 

External Character, Temperature, and Specific Gravity. 

The sensible qualities of this water are extremely 
similar to those springs at Ballston, which have been 
already examined. Its temperature is uniformly at 
all seasons 52. Its specific gravity, when taken with 
great care and by repeated trials, was found to be as 
1012 to 1000; thus it will be seen that it is much 
greater than the water at Ballston, affording strong 
proof that its saline contents is in much larger pro- 
portion. 

The appearances of Saratoga water at the spring 
are very similar to the description which I have given 
of the Ballston springs. Great quantities of gas are 
emitted from the bottom of the well, and passing 
through the water, burst on the surface. Those bub- 
bles are found to be carbonic acid gas, forming an 
atmosphere on the surface of the well deleterious to 
animal life and incapable of supporting flame. 

When a glass of the water is first taken from the 
spring, it is perfectly clear and transparent. Minute 
air bubbles are seen extricating from it, many of 
which, in a few minutes, adhere to the inside of the 
glass. 

Owing to the quantity of this gas, if the water is 
immediately bottled when taken from the spring and 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 65 

well corked in warm weather, the bottles are liable 
to burst, from the expansion of the air. But no mine- 
ral water bears bottling better than this; and when 
carefully performed, it will bear carrying to any cli- 
mate, while its essential qualities are but very little 
impaired. This practice of bottling the water is now 
well understood, and is carried on at this spring with 
great success. The demand for it not being alone 
confined to this country, and as it fortunately hap- 
pens that the spring is so abundant that the supply 
of water is inexhaustible, it may hereafter become a 
lucrative article of commerce. 

The taste of the water is highly saline, but brisk 
and pungent; much more saline than the Ballston 
water, and rather more stimulating and acidulous. 

It has no sensible chalybeate taste, and no smell. 
Its saline taste being very much counteracted by the 
smart pungency which it possesses from the carbonic 
acid, renders it less disagreeable to the palate than it 
would otherwise be; and after a little use, its taste is 
by no means unpleasant; on the contrary, it is thought 
by many a most agreeable drink. 

The first effect of it when taken into the stomach, 
is similar to that of bottled liquor. Most persons feel 
an exhilaration of spirits and a slight giddiness from 
the use of it. If taken in sufficient quantity, it con- 
stantly shows a purgative effect on the system; but 
of this quality in both waters, I shall speak more 
fully when I come to treat of their medicinal quali- 
ties. 

I 



66 Chemical Analysis of 

If a glass of this water is left exposed for an hour 
or two to the atmosphere, innumerable bubbles of 
gas arise from it, some of which escape from the 
surface, the rest adhere to the side of the glass; the 
water by degrees loses its transparency, a light pel- 
licle appears on the surface, which falling down and 
increasing, a white powder is deposited on the sides 
and bottom of the glass. The water then by degrees 
recovers its transparency, but has lost its pungent 
and acidulous taste, being perfectly vapid and simply 
saline. 



Examination of the Congress Water by reagents. 

Experiment I. 
The colour of Litmus Paper is immediately 
changed from blue to red. 

Experiment II. 
Paper stained with Turmeric is not sensibly 
affected. 

Experiment III. 
Muriat of JBarytes, when dropped into a glass of 
the water, produces no change in it. 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 67 

Experiment IV. 
Neither has Nitrat of Barytes or Muriat of Stron- 
tian the slightest effect on it. 

Experiment V. 

Oxalat of Ammonia produces an immediate white 
cloud and an abundant precipitate. 

Experiment VI. 
Lime Water causes an immed3(p precipitate, even 
when the Congress water is added only in the pro- 
portion of one fifth. 

Experiment VII. 
Tincture of Galls has scarcely any sensible effect 
when first added to the water, but on letting it stand 
in the glass for some time, a purplish tint is ex- 
hibited. 

Experiment VIII. 
Prussiat of Potash is very slightly affected by 
this water. A light green colour after a short time 
appears, but here there is a very sensible difference 
between the change produced in this water, and that 
of Lowe's Well at Ballston. 

Experiment IX. 
Nitrat of Stiver instantly throws down a dense 
white sediment sensibly more abundant than in the 
Ballston water. 



68 Chemical Analysis of 

Experiment X. 
Acetat of Lead produces also a white cloud and 
an abundant precipitate, which is soluble in distilled 
vinegar. 

Experiment XI. 
Nitrat of Mercury occasions a copious white 
precipitate. 

^Experiment XII. 
Sulphuric Acid, when dropped into a glass of this 
water, excites an immediate and brisk effervescence 
more actively than in the Ballston water, after which 
a white precipitate is thrown down. 

Experiment XIII. 
Nitric Acid causes the same extrication of gas, 
but no precipitate is thrown down. 

Experiment XIV. 
Carbonat of Potash produces no change in the 
water. 

Experiment XV. 
Pure Potash, when dropped into a glass of this 
water, produces an immediate cloud which is fol- 
lowed by a precipitate. 






the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 69 

Experiment XVI. 
Pure Ammonia has precisely the same effect; but 
when a little more of the liquid is added, the pre- 
cipitate is redissolved; in the first instance, the am- 
monia takes up the excess of carbonic acid, which 
'holds the earths in solution; but an excess of 
ammonia deprives the earth of the whole of its car- 
bonat, and it becomes again soluble. 

Having made the above experiments with water 
from the spring, I now proceeded in order to obtain 
more complete inductions to follow up and repeat 
some of these experiments after the water was 
boiled. 

I therefore boiled one quart of the Congress water 
for half an hour, and having filtered it, made the 
few following experiments. 

The precipitate which was left on the filter after 
boiling amounted to near 20 grains, which was much 
more than I obtained from the Ballston water; it was 
also of a much lighter colour, owing to the absence of 
the oxyd of iron; it effervesced when nitric acid was 
poured on it. 

Experiment XVII. 
JVitrat of Silver produced the same dense white 
precipitate as before. 

Experiment XVIII. 

Acetat of Lead was affected in the same manner. 



70 Chemical Analysis of 

Experiment XIX. 
Litmus Paper was not changed in colour. 

Experiment XX. 
Paper stained with Turmeric has its colour slightly 
changed to an orange yellow. 

Experiment XXI. 

Acids now produce no effervescence. 



Experiment XXII. 
Oxalat of Ammonia produces a slight cloudiness, 
but by no means equal to that which it does when 
fresh drawn from the spring. 

Experiment XXIII. 
Muriat of Barytes has not the smallest effect. 

Experiment XXIV. 
Tincture of Galls produces no change of colour. 

Experiment XXV. 

Prussiat of Potash has no sensible effect on the 
water. 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 71 



from the above Experiments the following Con- 
clusions may be drawn. 

From Experiments I. and XVII. that this water 
contains a large quantity of carbonic acid gas, and 
demonstrate that it is partly combined and partly 
uncombined, or in a free state. 

Experiments VII. and VIII. show that the Con- 
gress water is but very slightly, if at all, impregnated 
with iron; and that whatever quantity it may contain 
is in the state of a carbonat. From the different 
effects of these tests we have reason, however, to 
infer, that the proportion of iron is much less than in 
the Ballston water. 

Experiments XI. XVII. and XVIII. indicate 
the presence of muriatic acid in a state of com- 
bination; the quantity of the precipitate also shows 
that it is much more abundant than the Ballston 
water. 

Experiment III. shows decidedly, that no sul- 
phuric acid or sulphats are present. 

Experiment V. proves the presence of a large 
quantity of lime, which is shown by Experiment 
XXII. to be held in solution principally by an excess 
of carbonic acid. 



72 Chemical Analysis of 



Experiments to ascertain the Gaseous Contents of 
the Congress Water. 

In order to determine the nature of the gas with 
which we find this water so highly saturated, I pro- 
ceeded in the same manner as I have before de- 
scribed in the analysis of Ballston water, and which 
I think unnecessary to repeat here. Farther trials 
have convinced me of the accuracy of the method 
which I employed; and the experiments on this part 
of the analysis were so repeatedly made, that I think 
I may fairly presume that no material error has 
arisen. 

In the water which we now describe, the gas is 
rather more abundant and free than in the Ballston 
water; therefore, it requires to be examined in the 
neighbourhood of the spring, as much of it escapes 
before the application of heat, though the whole of it 
is not let loose till the commencement of the boiling 
point at least. By proceeding in the manner which I 
before pursued, I have always succeeded in obtaining 
68 cubic inches of gas from one quart or 57.750 
cubic inches of the water, the greater part of which 
gas was absorbed by lime water, and of course was 
carbonic acid; that which was not taken up by lime 
water never amounted to more than two cubic inches, 
which, from its quality of extinguishing name, I have 
every reason to suppose must be principally azotie 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 73 

gas. I mention here, however, with regret, that 
owing to the difficulty of obtaining such an appa- 
ratus in this place as an Eudiometer, I was not able 
to decide whether a portion of these two cubic 
inches, which escaped the action of lime water, was 
not atmospheric air; however, this cannot be thought 
a matter of consequence; certainly none in a medical 
point of view, as we have no reason to suspect it of 
medical qualities. 

From the above experiments, we conclude that 
one quart or 57.750 cubic inches of Congress 
water contains, 

CuVic Inches, 
Of Carbonic acid gas - - - 66 

Azotic gas - - - - 2 

68 



K 



74 Chemical Analysis of 



Examination of the Contents of the Congress Water 
by evaporation. 

The experiments which have been already de- 
tailed, throw great light on the qualities of this water, 
and enable us without difficulty to decide upon the 
nature, but not on the quantity, of the different sub- 
stances with which it is impregnated. 

We have seen by the use of the same reagents 
that in many respects there is a great resemblance 
between the two waters of Ballston and Saratoga; 
that there is nothing very complicated in their quali- 
ties; that they contain the same species of salts; but 
that they materially differ in the quantity. Tests or 
reagents, when in the hands of an experienced 
chemist, are more certain guides than have been 
generally imagined. Without the use of them, the 
process by evaporation is attended with confusion 
and uncertainty. When we know from tests what 
are the substances to be expected, the experiments 
by evaporation become more simplified and fa- 
miliar. 

I accordingly proceeded to evaporation in the same 
manner and with the same quantity of water that I 
had operated on in my analysis of Ballston spring. 

One quart of the water fresh from the Congress 
Spring was placed in a glazed china vessel, placed 
in a sand bath over a furnace. Heat was gradually 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 75 

applied, but never allowed to exceed 180 or 190 of 
Fahrenheit. The same appearances took place as 
have been previously described in the analysis of 
Ballston water. When the gas began to arise, which 
it soon did very freely, the water became turbid; a 
white pellicle appeared on its surface, which gradu- 
ally fell to the bottom, in considerable quantity, but 
never assumed the brown colour that the residuum 
from the Ballston water always showed. When the 
water was nearly evaporated, cubic crystals of salt 
appeared, which I allowed to subside, and after eva- 
porating the water to dryness, collected the whole of 
the residuum together; which, when dried in a heat 
of about 200, weighed precisely 156 grains. 



Examination of the Residuum. 

The whole of the residuum was submitted to the 
action of alkohol, with a view to separating the 
muriats of lime and magnesia from the muriat of 
soda, with which I had reason to think it was prin- 
cipally composed. The success of this process entirely 
depends upon the quantity and quality of the alkohol; 
it is necessary, therefore, to ascertain the specific 
gravity of the alkohol with perfect precision. That 
which I used was as high as 825, having been pre- 



76 Chemical Analysis of 

viously distilled from hot muriat of lime; when of 
this strength it has no action on muriat of soda. 
After the entire solid contents obtained by evapora- 
tion had been digested in about six times its weight 
of alkohol, assisted by gentle heat, it was then care- 
fully filtered, and the whole of the undissolved matter 
dried at the same temperature; it was then found to 
weigh only 148 grains, so that the alkohol had taken 
up 8 grains. 

On the residuum, which resisted the action of al- 
kohol, and which was now reduced to 148 grains, I 
poured about eight times its weight of distilled 
water, and digested it sufficiently long to render any 
salts perfectly soluble in it; it was then poured on a 
filter and well washed with distilled water. The whole 
of what remained insoluble was collected on the 
filter and dried in the usual manner, when it was 
found to weigh precisely 45 grains, so that the 
aqueous solution contained 103 grains of a soluble 
salt. 

The powder which had escaped the action of al- 
kohol, and which was insoluble in distilled water, 
we have, from the result of former experiments, as- 
certained to be carbonats of lime and magnesia, 
combined wilh a certain proportion of aerated iron, 
as was the case in our analysis of the Ballston water. 
There were different methods of separating these, 
but on this occasion I preferred proceeding in the 
same manner I had done with the Ballston water; 
the similarity of both having been so apparent, I 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 77 

concluded that the results would be equally so. Ac- 
cordingly, to this powder weighing 45 grains I 
gradually poured distilled vinegar; an immediate 
effervescence took place. This process was continued 
for several hours, stirring the mixture occasionally, 
and assisting it with a gentle heat, as the action of 
vinegar is but slow. The process of the solution was 
attended to by occasionally testing it with litmus 
paper. When no more action took place, the whole 
being nearly dissolved, the solution was filtered; but 
nothing more remained on the filter than a small 
quantity of a light reddish brown powder, which, 
when dried in a dull red heat, scarcelv amounted to 
half a grain; this powder was then enveloped in wax 
and exposed to the heat of a blow-pipe in a platina 
spoon; it was then reduced to a small quantity of a 
very dark powder, which was attracted easily by the 
magnet. 

It thus appears that the Congress water, though 
but slightly affected by the usual tests, and contrary 
to the general opinion, does contain a small quantity 
of iron, but by no means so much as the Ballston 
water. 

We shall now proceed to examine the three dif- 
ferent solutions which we have made, in the follow- 
ing order. 



78 Chemical Analysts of 

Examination of the Solution in AlkohoL 

This solution, which contained eight grains, wafc 
perfectly clear, but had a very bitter taste; and as it 
generally consists of only muriats of lime and mag- 
nesia, I proceeded in the following manner to dis- 
cover its contents. 

I evaporated the whole of the solution to dryness; 
a white powder appeared, which was very deli- 
quescent when exposed to the atmosphere even for a 
short time; the whole of this powder was then dis- 
solved in a small quantity of distilled water, thus 
converting the alkohol solution into an aqueous one. 
Sulphuric acid was now gradually poured into this 
solution, till the basis of these salts were saturated, 
which was judged of by watching the progress with 
litmus paper; a white powder, which was sulphat of 
lime, fell to the bottom; this was separated by fil- 
tration, and when dried and collected was found to 
weigh 4 J grains, which, according to Bergman, must 
have been equal to 3 J of muriat of lime. The solution 
which remained was then examined with pure am- 
monia, and found to contain magnesia. Thus it ap- 
pears that one quart of this water contains 3 J of 
muriat of lime, which deducted from the 8 grains of 
salt which was soluble in alkohol, leaves 4| of 
muriat of magnesia. 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 79 



Examination of the Solution in Distilled Water. 

In order to examine the contents of this solution, 
which consisted of 103 grains, I proceeded to eva- 
poration in a glass vessel. Upon evaporating it very 
slowly, beautiful cubic crystals of salt appeared; the 
heat was then continued to dryness, when 103 grains 
of salt were obtained, which was examined in the 
following manner. 

Experiment I. 
On a part of it a little concentrated sulphuric acid 
was poured, when the fumes and peculiar smell of 
muriatic acid were instantly produced. 

Experiment II. 
A small quantity of this salt was again dissolved 
in a wine glass of distilled water; to this was added a 
few drops of nitrat of silver, when an immediate 
thick white precipitate was produced. 

Experiment III. 
A little of this salt was dissolved in distilled water; 
to this was dropped in a few drops of muriat of 
barytes, but no precipitate appeared. 

Experiment IV. 
To a little of this saline solution a few drops of 



80 Chemical Analysis of 

oxalat of ammonia were added, but no change was 
produced in it. 

From these experiments it follows, that the whole 
of the soluble salts in this solution were nothing more 
than muriat of soda; that it contains neither sulphat 
of soda or sulphat of magnesia, and that in every 
respect the saline contents of the Congress Spring 
are similar to those of Ballston; but that while the 
Ballston water contains but 43 grains of muriat of 
soda or common salt in one quart, the Congress 
Spring contains 103 grains. 



Examination of the Solution in Distilled Vinegar, 

It having been perfectly ascertained that this solu« 
tion, which consisted of 47 £ grains of solid contents, 
could be nothing more than carbonat of lime and 
carbonat of magnesia, which had been held in solu- 
tion in this water by an excess of carbonic acid, and 
were precipitated by the process of boiling, I pro- 
ceeded to examine the contents in the following 
manner: 

I first slowly evaporated the whole of it in the 
bottom of a Florence flask over a lamp; a substance 
appeared at the bottom which was very acrid, which 



the Congress Spring at Saratoga. 81 

would not crystallize, and was very deliquescent; 
from these circumstances I had no doubt that it con- 
tained magnesia as well as lime. Distilled water was 
then poured on it, converting it into an aqueous 
solution. Sulphuric acid was then cautiously dropped 
in while the least precipitation appeared. 

This precipitate, which was an insipid powder, 
consisted of sulnhat of lime; it was then collected on 
a filter and dried in a strong heat over a lamp, after 
which it weighed 45 grains. Now as sulphat of lime 
contains 34 parts of pure lime in 100, the 45 grains 
of sulphat of lime here obtained will contain about 
15 of pure lime, which is as nearly as possible equal 
to 27| grains of carbonat of lime, the state in which 
we find it in this water; when this is deducted from 
the 44f grains which the solution contained, it will 
leave 17 grains of carbonat of magnesia, converted 
now into a sulphat and soluble in water. 

We have thus from one quart of water of the Con- 
gress Spring obtained the following substances: 

Grains. 

Muriat of soda - 103 

Carbonat of lime ... 27| 

Carbonat of magnesia - . - 17 

Muriat of lime - - - 3J. 

Muriat of magnesia - 4j 

Oxyd of iron - - - i. 



156 



Cubic Inches. 

Carbonic acid gas - - 66 
Azotic gas 2 

Total, 68 



82 Chemical Analysis of 



Chemical Analysis of the Flat Rock Spring at 
Saratoga. 

The external qualities of this spring have so 
striking a resemblance to those at Ballston as well as 
to that of the Congress Well, that they are scarcely 
to be distinguished. Gas arises freely from the bot- 
tom, and breaks in the same manner on its surface* 
This gas, upon examination, proves to be almost 
entirely the carbonic acid. When the water is first 
taken up in a glass it is perfectly transparent, and 
sparkles when poured from one glass into another; 
its taste is brisk, acidulous, and saline; full as pun- 
gent and acidulous as any of the other waters, but 
by no means so saline as the Congress Well, which 
renders it at first much more agreeable to the palate; 
it has no smell, and scarcely any chalybeate taste. 
When let remain in a glass vessel exposed to the 
atmosphere it becomes turbid, a light pellicle appears 
on its surface, and in a few hours a white powder is 
deposited on the sides and bottom of the glass; after 
which the water loses its agreeable pungent taste, 
and becomes simply saline. 

The temperature of this spring is uniformly 52°, 
differing in no respect from any of the others. 

Its specific gravity when taken with ^eat care at 
the temperature of 60, is as 1007 to 1000. 



the Flat Rock Spring at Saratoga. 83 

With tests or reagents it exhibited the following 
appearances: 

Litmus Paper was immediately changed from a 
blue to a red colour, but this could not be made 
appear after the water had been long exposed to the 
atmosphere. 

Paper stained with Turmeric is not changed in its 
colour either when fresh from the spring or when 
the water is boiled. 

Lime Water produces an immediate turbidness, 
and a copious precipitation takes place when added 
in certain proportions. One part of the mineral water 
to three parts of lime water will be sufficient to pro- 
duce this effect, exhibiting strong proof of the quan- 
tity of carbonic acid gas which the water contains. 
Having explained this fact before in the analysis of 
Lowe's Well, I shall only here observe that I have 
by repeated experimerts found that very correct 
inferences of the quantity of carbonic acid gas which 
exists in a mineral water, may be drawn, by the 
quantity of it which is necessary to decompose lime 
water. 

Tincture of Galls scarcely produces any efFect on 
this water when fresh taken from the well; but if let 
stand in the glass for some hours, it assumes a light 
purple colour. 



84 Chemical Analysts of 

Prussiat of Potash, when first dropped into this 
water, has no sensible effect; but if a drop or two of 
muriatic acid is added previously, and the glass let 
stand for some hours, a light green colour is pro- 
duced, indicating that but a very small quantity of 
iron is present. 

Nitrat of Silver, when dropped into a glass of 
this water, immediately throws down a very dense 
white precipitate. 

Muriat ofBarytes does not alter the transparency 
of the water. 

Oxalat of Ammonia produces an immediate white 
precipitate when the water is first taken from the 
well, but has no such effect when the water is boiled. 

Sulphuric Acid produces a very brisk efferves- 
cence when dropped into the water; after which, a 
precipitate of sulphat of lime takes place. 

Carbonat of Ammonia does not disturb the trans- 
parency of the water. 

Carbonat of Potash has no effect on the water. 

Pure Ammonia, when dropped into the water, 
immediately throws down a white precipitate. 



the Flat Rock Spring at Saratoga. 85 

Pure Potash has precisely the same effect, and for 
the same reason, as it deprives the water of that ex* 
cess of its carbonic acid which hold the earths in 
solution. 

These preliminary experiments were sufficient to 
satisfy me that the water of the Flat Rock Spring 
was possessed of the same qualities as those which I 
had already examined, though some of those tests 
had convinced me that it differed essentially in the 
quantity of its saline contents in particular. 

In order to determine this, I had recourse to eva- 
poration, the only true criterion, the enquiry having 
been much simplified by the results of the above 
trials. 

Having found that this water contained a large 
proportion of gas, I proceeded to ascertain its quan- 
tity, and quality, in the same manner that I have 
already described, and which I found easy and suc- 
cessful. From the result of my experiments I found 
that one quart of the water contained, of 

Cubic Inches. 
Carbonic acid gas 66 

Azote 1| 

Total, 67£ 

One quart wine measure or 57.750 cubic inches, 
was now evaporated with great care and with a heat 
that never arose to the boiling point. Precisely the 
same appearances took place as in the evaporation of 



36 Chemical Analysis of 

the Congress water; it first became turbid, and then, 
as the quantity of water diminished, a white pre- 
cipitate gradually fell to the bottom; the evaporation 
having been continued to dryness, the precipitate or 
residuum was carefully collected and dried, when I 
found it to weigh only 71 grains, — showing a very 
great difference indeed between the solid contents of 
this spring and that of the Congress well. 

The whole of the residuum was now submitted to 
the action of alkohol of high specific gravity, which 
was poured on it in a phial and repeatedly shaken for 
some hours, assisted by a slight heat. The solution 
was then filtered, and the residuum collected on the 
filter, which, when dried in the same temperature, 
was found to have lost 4 grains, weighing now only 
67 grains; to these 67 grains I poured on about 
eight times its quantity of distilled water; as soon as 
the solution was complete, the mixture was again 
filtered, and the residuum in this case now dried and 
weighed — when it was found to be reduced to 26 
grains, the distilled water having taken up 41 grains. 

The residuum which was insoluble in water, con- 
sisting only now of 26 grains, was submitted to the 
action of distilled vinegar in order to ascertain the 
quantity and quality of the earths which were inso- 
luble after boiling the water. A brisk effervescence 
took place; the distilled vinegar was gradually added 
till a complete solution took place, except of such a 
small quantity of a brown powder that it did not 
consist of the J of a grain. By heating this powder, 



the Flat Rock Spring at Saratoga. 87 

however, on charcoal rolled up in a li'tle wax, what 
remained showed sensibility lo the magnet, which 
proved that it was the iron which had previously 
existed in the water in the state of an ox\d. 

The different solutions remain to be examined, in 
order to determine the precise contents of each. 
First, that in alkohol consisting only of four grains, 
was slowly evaporated to dryness over a lamp; in 
this state, however, it remained but a very short 
time, becoming almost immediately deliquescent, and 
having an extremely bitter taste; it was then dis- 
solved in distilled water, and examined in the fol- 
lowing manner: 

To a part of it I added a few drops of oxalat of 
ammonia, but no change took place. To another part 
I added a little carbonat of ammonia; no change took 
place, till phosphat of soda was added, when an im- 
mediate white fiocculent cloud appeared, which 
showed decidedly the presence of magnesia. 

To a little more of this solution nitrat of silver 
was dropped in, when a thick white precipitate fell 
down. 

Thus I have found that this solution contained no 
lime, but that it contained magnesia exclusively and 
muriatic acid. This therefore was the only one in 
which 1 had not discovered muriat of lime; the whole 
of these four grains,- which were taken up by the 
alkohol, being muriat of magnesia. 

The second solution, being the aqueous one, and 
which had taken up 41 grains, was now slowly eva- 



88 Chemical Analysis of 

porated in a glass vessel over a lamp. Beautiful cubic 
crystals soon appeared; the whole was evaporated to 
dryness in order to examine this salt, which with 
the usual tests, unnecessary here to repeat, was found 
to be wholly muriat of soda or common salt. 

The last or third solution, which consisted of 25J 
grains, taken up by the distilled vinegar, was next 
examined to discover whether it consisted wholly or 
in part of carbonat of lime, or wholly or in part of 
carbonat of magnesia; for this purpose it was eva- 
porated slowly till a viscid mass was obtained, which 
could not be brought to crystallize, and which was 
deliquescent. This residuum not only showed the 
properties of acetat of lime, but also of magnesia; it 
was accordingly converted into an aqueous solution, 
and the whole of the lime thrown down, by con- 
verting it into a selenite with a few drops of sulphuric 
acid. The precipitate thus formed, was dried and 
weighed, when 1 found it to weigh 25 grains; now 
as, according to Bergman, 100 parts of gypsum con- 
tains 34 of pure lime, or what is nearly equal, to 62 
of carbonat of lime, the state in which of course it 
must have existed in the mineral water, the 25 grains 
which we have here obtained is equivalent to about 
15 1 grains of carbonat of lime. The remainder, when 
evaporated, produced perfect crystals of sulphat of 
magnesia or epsom salt. Of course if we deduct 15| 
from the 25f grains which was held in solution 
by the distilled vinegar, we shall find its contents 



the Flat Rock Spring at Saratoga. 89 

to be in the following proportions in one quart of 
water: 

Grains. 
Carbonat of lime - - - - 1 5| 

Carbonat of magnesia - - - - \0\ 

Total, 25J 

The analysis of Flat Rock Spring being now com- 
plete, I shall state the whole of the contents of one 
quart of the water to be, as it appeared to me, as fol- 
lows: 

Grains. 
Muriat of soda - - - 41 

Carbonat of lime - - - 1 5£ 

Carbonat of magnesia - \Q\ 

Muriat of magnesia 4 



Oxyd of iron 



71 



Of aerial contents: 

CubiG Inches. 
Of Carbonic acid gas 66 

Azotic gas - - - 1 

67| 

The two principal springs at Saratoga having been 
thus examined, I shall make but few observations in 
this place on their comparative contents, which are 
too striking to escape our notice. While the two 
wells at Ballston show no sensible difference, it ap- 
pears that the Congress and Flat Rock springs at 
Saratoga differ most essentially; not so much in the 

M 



90 Chemical Analysis, Esfc. 

quality as the quantity of thcfee substances with 
which they are impregnated. 

While the Congress spring contains 103 grains of 
muriat of soda in one quart of its water, the Flat 
Rock contains only 41; while the Congress spring 
contains 44§ of carbonat of lime and magnesia, the 
Flat Rock contains oniv 26. Thus the difference is 
so very essential that it deserves particular attention, 
because the effects of the two waters on the system 
must also materially differ. To point out, however, 
the medical qualities of each, must be the subject of 
another part of this work. In the next chapter I shall 
make some observations on the chemical contents of 
mineral waters in general; and in doing so, I shall 
enter into the qualities of these and other saline 
waters, referring to a Synoptical Table which accom- 
panies it, and which will show what has been ascer- 
tained to be the solid as well as gaseous contents 
of these, as well as the most celebrated waters iji 
Europe. 



91 



CHAPTER III. 



General Remarks on the Composition of Mineral Waters, 
and on the Sensible and Physical Qualities of the Waters 
of Ballston and Saratoga, as resembling those most cele- 
brated in Europe. 

Having thus I trust faithfully given the result of 
my experiments on the principal waters of Ballston 
and Saratoga, I shall proceed to make some ob- 
servations on their nature and properties, before I 
commence an important part of this work, an enquiry 
into their medical qualities. 

On this subject, as well as on their component 
parts, I shall perhaps differ from the opinions of 
many who have preceded me. Had there before ap- 
peared any work on these waters sufficiently accurate, 
I should not now have been induced to enter into 
this investigation. Although the result of my analysis 
differs in many respects from every other, yet many 
of the conclusions which are drawn by Dr. Seaman, 
in his treatise on the subject, are correct and judi- 
cious. To him more than to any other writer, are we 
indebted for much important information; but since 
the publication of his work, a new era has taken 
place in chemistry. To supply those parts, therefore, 
in which he is deficient, required new and additional 
experiments, which may have been before expected 
from his own skill and judgment. 



92 General Remarks on the 

Since the publication of his work, an analysis has 
appeared in a letter to Dr. Hosack, said to be the 
work of a celebrated French chemist. Coming from 
such authority, great confidence has been placed in 
it; but with all that respect for the talents and judg- 
ment of Dr. Hosack to which he is so eminently en- 
titled, I must say that I never met with a more 
unsatisfactory or incorrect analysis than that which 
has been furnished him by his correspondent. It 
affords, however, Dr. Hosack an opportunity of 
making some observations on the medical qualities 
of those waters, so sound and so judicious as to 
compensate in some degree for the defect of the 
analysis. 

The principal error of this analysis, as said to be 
performed in France, is the assertion that the waters 
of Ballston contain three times their own bulk of 
carbonic acid gas. This error is so great, that it is not 
improbable it was a typographical one, or a mistake 
in the translation, as we know, according to the 
statement of Bergman, Kirwan, and others, that 
water at the temperature of 52 can hold little more 
than its own bulk under the common pressure of 
of the atmosphere, and I have found this to be the 
case by my own experiments on the spot. If, there- 
fore, the water does not contain it at the fountain, 
how could it be possible to obtain any such quantity 
from it when examined after so long a time as it 
must have taken to transmit it to France. 

The next mistake, which is a very important one, 



Composition of Mineral Waters. 93 

is the assertion that one pint and a half of Ballston 
water contains four grains of carbonat of iron. To 
refute this opinion, besides referring to my own 
experiments, I need only state, that no water ever 
did or ever could contain so much; that according to 
the assertion of the most able chemists, it requires 
100 cubic inches of carbonic acid gas to hold one 
grain of iron in solution, and that this water does not 
contain much more than half this quantity of gas in a 
pint and a half measure. My statement, which gives 
one grain of iron to the quart of water, exceeds even 
the usual calculation, and I am confident is as much 
as the water really contains. Small as this appears to 
be, it is more than I believe has ever been allowed 
to be present in the most celebrated chalybeates, 
such as Tunbridge Wells in England. 

The statements which are given in the French 
analysis, of the nature and proportions of the saline 
ingredients, are by no means so incorrect, and do 
not essentially differ from what I have found them. 

Many mineral waters of established reputation, 
when chemically examined, have been found to con- 
tain so small a quantity of neutral salts, and some of 
these so inert in their nature, as to excite some sur- 
prise that the effect of such waters on the system 
should be so powerful. The attempts which have 
been made to reconcile the effects of these waters 
with their chemical qualities, have been in most in- 
stances fanciful or absurd. This question has been 
treated lately very ably by Dr. Murray, in his analysis 



94 General Remarks on the 

of the waters of Dunblane. He observes very justly 
that this subject is of much importance in a medical 
point of view; and if his suggestions, strengthened 
as they are by the opinion of Kirwan, are susceptible 
of proof, they go a great way in removing many of 
those difficulties which we long lay under, in explain- 
ing the " modus operandi" of mineral waters. 

Kirwan, when treating on the subject of evapora- 
tion, observes, " That mineral waters frequently 
contain incompatible salts, which being brought 
together by close evaporation, they decompose each 
other, and thus salts are exhibited which the water 
did not originally contain." 

Dr. Murray follows up this view of the subject, 
and observes, that " in cases where a mineral water 
contains several distinct ingredients, many of them 
may be changed or decomposed in the progress of 
evaporation, and one of them may be the product of 
the operation, which did not exist in the water as an 
original ingredient. ' ' 

Thus when we collect, after evaporation, sulphat 
of lime, muriat of soda, and muriat of lime, in small 
quantity, it leads us naturally to the conclusion that 
these are the real or original ingredients; but it is not 
improbable that when the liquor becomes concen- 
trated during the progress of evaporation, new com- 
pounds take place. The sulphuric acid may have 
acted on the muriat of lime which was contained in 
the water, and by mutual decomposition convert 
that muriat into a sulphat of lime, and the muriat of 



Composition of Mineral Waters. 95 

lime into a sulphat of soda; and it is here suggested 
that this is rendered more probable from the purga- 
tive qualities which these waters originally possessed, 
which could easily be accounted for if they contained 
sulphat of soda, the state in which the sulphuric acid 
originally existed, but could not be produced by 
so inert a substance as sulphat of lime. . 

This is only one example, and if it was capable of 
direct proof, would greatly facilitate our knowledge 
of the component part of mineral waters, and go a 
great way to explain some of their important effects 
on the system. But for a very learned and scientific 
discussion of this subject, I must refer the reader to 
the work of Dr. Murray on the mineral waters of 
Dunblane. 

This mode of reasoning will give to many of the 
mineral waters a much larger proportion of muriat 
of lime than they were ever suspected to contain; 
indeed sufficiently so as to increase the quantity to 
that medium dose of this substance which it would 
be prudent to prescribe. Muriat of lime has lately 
been found to possess very strong power on the 
living system, and is said to be a valuable remedy in 
scrophula and other diseases which are frequently 
removed by mineral waters. A few grains of this 
medicine will produce powerful effects, but it is not 
improbable that when a much smaller quantity is 
taken in a more dilute state, and combined with 
other salts, such as sulphat of soda or muriat of soda, 



96 General Remarks on the 

that its operation may by this means be rendered 
more active. 

These observations more particularly apply to the 
more compound mineral waters, such as those of 
Cheltenham and Dunblane; but I dont see how the 
same reasoning is applicable to those containing 
fewer compound salts, such as the waters of Ballston 
and Saratoga, which we have found contain no sul- 
phats, except it can be supposed that some part of 
that salt which appears to be muriat of soda may 
originally have existed in the water in the state of 
muriat of lime, or that part of the carbonat of lime 
which was collected was the product of close evapo- 
ration, and may have been originally in the state of 
muriat of lime. 

Still the analysis has discovered muriats of lime 
and magnesia in both these waters, in sufficient 
quantity to have sensible effects on the system, 
especially when taken in so dilute a state and in such 
quantities as these waters are generally drank, and 
combined, as we find them, with other salts, as well 
as with important chalybeate qualities. 

In order to form a more correct idea of the waters 
which are the subject of this essay, I shall take a 
view of the qualities of those mineral waters in Eu- 
rope which are the most celebrated, and which have 
any resemblance to those which we have just ex- 
amined; in doing this, I shall consult the latest and 
most esteemed authors on the subject; to which I 
shall add the result of my own observations and 



Composition of Mineral Waters. 97 

experience, obtained from frequent visits to those 
places in Europe whose waters have the highest 
reputation and are most remarkable for their medical 
qualities. 

However celebrated many of those waters in Eu- 
rope are considered, when we examine their nature 
and properties and compare them with the waters of 
Ballston and Saratoga, we shall have reason to be 
convinced, that though these differ from every other 
in many respects, yet that they are superior to most 
and inferior to none of the most celebrated mineral 
waters of Europe. Annual visits to these watering 
pfeces are now become so frequent and fashionable, 
that it is no unimportant circumstance to be ac- 
quainted with the virtue of those springs which are 
most frequented. 

In Europe those places which at first were only 
frequented by invalids, are now become the resort 
of the gay and fashionable class of society, whose pe- 
riodical visits are encouraged by the amusement and 
dissipation always to be found at such places. Such 
persons it is true, from excess of luxury and dissipa- 
tion, are frequently affected with complaints for 
which many of these waters are necessary remedies. 

In this country it is somewhat different, indepen- 
dent of that natural wish for change of air and exer- 
cise. The climate of this continent is so varied, that 
all degrees, from a West India to a northern tem- 
perature, is to be found in it. 

Change, therefore, occasionally from one part of it 
N 



98 General Remarks on the 

to another, becomes a matter of real necessity. The 
inhabitants of the south, whose constitutions are im- 
paired from exposure to excessive heat and stagnant 
marshes, seek relief from both by visiting in sum- 
mer those places where the purity of the air and the 
temperature of the weather afford them effectual 
relief. Those also whose occupations confine them to 
a residence in large cities, feel the same necessity; 
and providence has fortunately for such persons not 
only blessed them with such a climate in the middle 
states, but has there also provided them with such 
mineral waters, as of all others are best adapted to 
their complaints. 

Without entering into any enquiry on the qualities 
of those mineral waters which have no resemblance 
to those of Ballston and Saratoga, I shall confine 
myself to a few of those which are more properly 
called saline, and shall divide them into simply 
saline, compound saline, and compound chalybeate 
and saline. 

First, of simple saline waters. Of these we have 
two examples, Sedlitz in Germany, and Epsom in 
England. These springs contain, as their most active 
ingredient, and indeed almost their only one, a large 
proportion of neutral salts. This salt is principally 
sulphat of magnesia, with which Sedlitz is so highly 
charged that one quart of the water contains more 
than 350 grains of this salt. They neither contain 
carbonated earths, carbonated iron, or carbonic acid 



Composition of Mineral Waters. 99 

gas; thus they are perfectly dissimilar to the waters 
of Ballston and Saratoga. They only agree in one 
respect, which is in containing a large quantity of a 
simple purgative salt, capable of being crystallized 
and taken with as much advantage any where else as 
at the spring; unimportant, therefore, as a mineral 
water in many respects, being totally deficient in 
many of the essential qualities to be found in the 
second class of compound mineral waters. 

Of these, Seltzer water may be cited as a good 
example, as besides its saline contents it contains 
carbonated lime, carbonat of magnesia, and a large 
quantity of carbonic acid gas; it has, therefore, many 
principles in common with Ballston and Saratoga, 
but contains only 34 grains of marine salt, 8 grains 
of earths, and 34 cubic inches of gas in a wine quart 
of the water. In many respects, therefore, it is 
greatly inferior. 

The waters of Vichy in France afford us another 
example of a compound saline mineral water, con 
taining abundance of carbonic acid gas, both muriat 
of soda and sulphat of magnesia, the exact quantity 
of which I am not able to learn; but from the de- 
scription given of its sensible qualities, it contains 
fewer ingredients, and those in less proportion than 
the waters of Ballston and Saratoga; it should also be 
observed, that this is a hot saline water, its tempera- 
ture being 120, which materially alters some of its 
medicinal qualities. 



100 General Remarks on the 

The waters of Spa, in Germany, though they can- 
not be strictly called saline, yet in consequence of 
being highly impregnated with carbonic acid gas, 
require to be mentioned here. From the quantity of 
the gas which they contain, they appear highly 
acidulous; and containing nothing more than iron 
and carbonats of lime and magnesia, in small quan- 
tity, they have none of the valuable qualities attached 
to the Ballston and Saratoga waters. They are more 
pungent and more acidulous, because the gas which 
they contain is mostly uncombined, though they 
neither hold the same quantity of earths or gas, and 
scarcely any neutral salts; in consequence of which, 
they are principally tonic and stimulating, — qualities 
in many complaints of great importance; — and if to 
be found in any of the numerous springs at Saratoga, 
as is highly probable, would be of particular value, 
as the stimulating, and often astringent heating 
qualities which such waters possess, may be occa- 
sionally counteracted by the purgative effects of the 
Congress Spring. 

The next water which I shall consider is that of 
Cheltenham, in England, as an example of a com- 
pound saline chalybeate and carbonated water. This 
water has been much celebrated in England, and 
with great justice. A comparison with the waters of 
Ballston and Saratoga, as given in the analysis, will 
show how materially they differ, and yet resembling 
each other in some of their most essential pro- 
perties. 



Composition of Mineral Waters. 101 

In the first place, Cheltenham water, though esti- 
mated as an acidulous and carbonated one, is greatly 
inferior in this valuable property to that of Ballston 
and Saratoga. Cheltenham is not estimated to con- 
tain more than 8 cubic inches of gas to the quart, 
while the latter hold from 60 to 65. Cheltenham 
contains of sulphat of soda and sulphat of magnesia 
120 grains to the quart, while the waters of Ballston 
and Saratoga contain neither of these salts, but in 
lieu of these, are impregnated with from 43 to 105 
grains of muriat of soda — a salt containing very sen* 
sible if not equal purgative powers. From experi- 
ments which I have made myself on the spot, I am 
satisfied that the quantity of oxyd of iron which the 
Cheltenham waters are said to contain, and which is 
estimated at 1| grains in the quart, is greatly over- 
rated, as it is scarcely to be discerned by any test, 
and has never been collected in such quantity by 
evaporation. 

Therefore it appears that Cheltenham, though pos- 
sessing many valuable qualities in common with 
these waters, is inferior to either in the most im- 
portant ones, its deficiency in carbonic acid gas 
being very apparent, and rendering it less tonic, less 
stimulating, and less agreeable to the palate, than the 
waters either of Ballston or Saratoga. 

There is only one class more of mineral waters 
with which 1 shall compare those of this country; 
those are the mineral waters of Harrogate,, in En- 



102 General Remarks on the 

gland. They are too celebrated to omit them, as fur* 
nishing us with an example of a very compound 
saline mineral water, which is more remarkable than 
any other in England, and more similar to those in 
this country, as containing principally the same kind 
of neutral salt, and nearly the same quantity of it. 
The difference, however, between both waters not- 
withstanding, is very essential; those of Harrogate, 
instead of containing the same quantity of carbonic 
acid gas simply, are impregnated with three different 
gases, viz. sulphurated hydrogen, carbonic acid gas, 
and azote; from the former of which, in particular, 
it derives some peculiar qualities. But its principal 
virtues arise from the quantity of muriat of soda and 
other salts and earths which it contains, rendering it 
a compound saline purgative, nauseous it is true, in 
the extreme, principally from the deficiency of car- 
bonic acid gas, which contributes not only to the 
briskness and agreeable pungency of the waters of 
Ballston and Saratoga, but adds in other respects to 
its medicinal qualities. 

Several of those mineral waters contain so large a 
proportion of neutral salts, that it has become an ob- 
ject of profit to collect them by evaporation and 
crystallization. This has been principally the case 
with respect to the waters of Cheltenham, where 
this business is prosecuted on an extensive scale, 
and for the sale of which article there is abundant 
demand, from the high character which these waters 
possess. 



Composition of Mineral Waters, 103 

Until the real qualities of these waters were dis- 
covered, and it was found that they derived their 
principal value from sulphat of magnesia and sulphat 
of soda, assisted by a small proportion of carbonic 
acid gas and iron, it was not very surprising that 
many should imagine that these salts exclusively, 
possessed singular medicinal qualities. But that the 
practice of using them should still continue, is rather 
unaccountable, when we consider that by the process 
of boiling and evaporation, all the real qualities which 
these waters possessed, independent of their salts, 
are destroyed, and that a dose of those salts can have 
no other medicinal qualities than are possessed by 
the same neutral salts prepared in any other manner. 
These observations were called for, from having ob- 
served, while at Saratoga, that the salts from the 
Congress spring were collected in the same manner, 
and employed by many as a sovereign remedy, as a 
substitute in all cases where the waters were appli- 
cable. 

If the practice of using those salts which are ex- 
tracted from the waters of Cheltenham is in any 
degree absurd, how much more so is it when they 
are collected from the waters of Ballston or Saratoga? 
We have only to recollect the analysis of the Con- 
gress spring to perceive what a mixture of salts and 
earths must be collected from it by evaporation; and 
as those earths are no longer soluble when deprived 
of the menstruum which contributed to their solu* 



104 General Remarks on the 

tion, the carbonic acid, it will be easily seen what a 
strange and disgusting draught such a substance as 
the residuum of Congress water must make. To place 
this in the clearest light, we have only to mix 27| 
grains of chalk, 17 grains of magnesia, about 110 
grains of marine salt, and muriats of lime and 
magnesia, in a quart of water. So nauseous and 
unpalatable a draught would be received with dis- 
gust, and yet it is by no means dissimilar to the 
residuum obtained from the Congress spring by 
evaporation. There is one way of obtaining the salt 
in its crystallized state, so obvious that it is rather 
surprising it has not been adopted. This may be 
done by first boiling the water for half an hour. 
Nearly the whole of the earths will by this means 
deposit; after which, the water may be drawn off 
clear, and the salts alone obtained by evapora- 
tion. 

To those who fancy that there is something in the 
salts of a mineral water which cannot be imitated by 
art, I would recommend this method, without being 
myself convinced that marine salt, obtained in this 
way, or sulphats of soda and magnesia obtained by 
crystallization from Cheltenham waters, can have 
any superior qualities than such salts obtained in the 
usual manner. 

But there is no real necessity for this mode of 
collecting the salts. I have already observed that 
both the waters of Saratoga and Ballston retain so 



Composition of Mineral Waters. 105 

much of their medical qualities when bottled, as to 
render the use of them even at a distance by no 
means ineffectual. This will be easily understood by 
a reference to the analysis. But it is not the case 
with respect to every species of mineral water, as 
there are many exceptions to it; for instance, the 
waters of Bath, in England, deriving as they do 
their principal virtue from their increased tempera- 
ture more than from their foreign contents, should 
be drank exclusively at the fountain, in order to de- 
rive that benefit from them which may be expected 
from waters of such peculiar qualities. 

The generality of chalybeates also do not retain 
their qualities for any length of time, so as to be of 
use at a distance from the well. The reason of this 
is obvious; the iron in those is held in solution by 
the carbonic acid gas, but the bond of union is very 
slight, and the slightest loss of this gas deprives the 
water of its iron, which is thrown down almost im- 
mediately after it is taken from the well. 

As the preceding observations on the sensible and 
physical qualities of the waters of Ballston and Sara- 
toga are intended as preliminary remarks to a more 
extended enquiry into their use and application to 
the cure of disease, I have endeavoured to render 
the subject more familiar to the generality of readers 
by comparing these springs with some of the most 
celebrated mineral waters in Europe. 

None but those possessing strong sensible quali- 
O 



106 General Remarks, Ssfr. 

ties can be expected to have corresponding medical 
powers. I have, therefore, confined myself to ob- 
servations on those only whose medical qualities are 
so apparent as to leave no doubt of their use as 
valuable remedies in the hands of a judicious and 
experienced physician. 






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109 



CHAPTER IV. 

Containing Observations on the Medicinal Qualities of the 
Waters of Ballston and Saratoga, with plain directions 
for their use in a variety of diseases. 

Having in the preceding pages given such an 
analysis of these waters as was necessary to form a 
correct judgment of their chemical properties, it now 
remains for me to make some observations on their 
medicinal qualities, and to describe those diseases in 
which they are beneficial, as well as those in which 
they are injurious. But as this would be of little 
value without a clear and correct knowledge of the 
mode of using them, I shall endeavour to point out 
the most judicious method of drinking those waters 
in all cases where they are applicable, with some 
remarks on the errors which at present prevail on 
this subject; to which I shall add such directions 
with respect to diet and regimen as may be neces- 
sary during the use of them. 

When we take a view of the component parts of 
these waters as they appear by analysis, we must be 
satisfied that they possess several of the most active 
of those ingredients which are calculated to give me- 
dicinal properties to mineral waters in general. I am 
not inclined to attribute to mineral waters of any de- 
scription any very exclusive property which cannot be 
shown by chemical analysis. Many of those to which 



110 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

the vulgar arc attracted by some supposed medical 
qualities, are, when we come to examine them, 
found perfectly inert; much, therefore, of the benefit 
which they are supposed to derive from them, may 
be easily accounted for from the influence of the 
imagination, as well as from other causes connected 
with the use of them at those often agreeable places. 
There are a certain class of people who run from one 
watering place to another in search of health, with- 
out any knowledge of the medicinal qualities of 
any of those springs which they frequent. It for- 
tunately happens that most of them are innocent, and 
but few of them capable of doing any injury if drank 
in moderation. This is not the case, however, with 
respect to the waters of Ballston and Saratoga. I 
should conceive that they were of little value indeed, 
if they were not capable of doing great mischief; 
and I have seen sufficient of this from my own ex- 
perience while there, to justify me in stating that 
from the quantities in which they are drank, and 
from the improper manner of drinking them, full as 
many have been injured as have received benefit 
from them; this, however, is one of the strongest 
proofs I can give of their valuable medicinal quali- 
ties. The most active poisons with which we are 
acquainted, when in the hands of a judicious physi- 
cian, become useful medicines; but when in the hands 
of an ignorant empiric, they have most deleterious 
effects. The time is past when the operation of all 
mineral waters was so little understood, that no ex- 



Waters of Ballston dnd Saratoga. Ill 

planation was attempted to be given of it; they were 
considered as specifics prepared by the hand of 
nature against those formidable diseases to which 
mankind were liable; they were only judged of by 
their effects and by the reports of those who had 
drank them. But at present we are in possession of 
the means which chemistry has afforded us, to learn 
with the utmost accuracy what are the ingredients of 
any mineral water; whether they are active, or inert. 
We now know that every mineral water is a com- 
pound of the water itself and of those substances 
which give it sensible properties, the water being 
only the menstruum which conveys those substances 
into the system; but I am not prepared to deny that 
this vehicle does not add something to their effects; 
on the contrary, I am convinced that there is no other 
way of accounting for the very powerful effects of 
many of those springs but by attributing much of it 
to the quantity of this liquid which is taken with it 
into the system. 

I shall now consider the principal qualities of the 
waters we are treating of. A reference to the analysis 
will at once show that they contain a considerable 
quantity of carbonic acid gas, both combined and 
uncombined, or in a free state; next, that they all 
contain a large quantity of a neutral purging salt, the 
muriat of soda; but that in this respect some of 
them contain more than others, a circumstance ex- 
tremely fortunate, rendering them more generally 



112 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

useful, suitable for different diseases and different 
constitutions. 

They are next found impregnated with oxyd of 
iron in sufficient quantity, and in that peculiar state 
which renders it most efficacious as a medicine. It 
appears also that some of the springs are highly 
impregnated with it, while others scarcely contain 
any. 

Besides those substances which I have mention- 
ed, and which certainly are its most active and 
useful ingredients, carbonats of lime and magnesia 
in considerable quantity, and muriats of lime and 
magnesia in small quantity, have been discovered in 
them. I shall now, therefore, proceed to consider 
the medicinal qualities of each of those substances, 
either uncombined or in that state of combination, 
which we find them in the water. 

The first ingredient in these waters which re- 
quires notice is the fixed air or carbonic acid gas; 
this is so very important a one, that upon it, it may 
be said, the principal qualities of the water depend; 
all other ingredients which it contain would be 
heavy and inert without the aid of this acid. De- 
prive the water of this principle, and almost all its 
virtues disappear; it is this which holds the iron and 
earths in solution; it is this which gives that agree- 
able pungent subacid taste to the water; and it is 
also this gas that produces that exhilaration of spirits 
which almost all persons feel who drink the water. 
Pure water highly impregnated with this gas alone, 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga, 113 

has been found to possess medicinal qualities. It 
communicates to the waters an antiseptic, stimu- 
lating, and frequently a diuretic quality; but when 
combined with such substances as we find in these 
waters, it not only retains the same qualities but it 
contributes greatly to the value of all the rest. Thus 
waters, which contain large quantities of a neutral 
salt, would be so nauseous without this gas that few 
would persist in the use of them; besides, from their 
stimulating effect on the stomach, the debility pro- 
duced by the use of those salts is in some degree 
counteracted. 

The next useful substance contained in those 
waters is the muriat of soda or common salt. It is 
most certainly from this salt, combined with the 
water in a very dilute state, that the purgative 
quality of these waters are principally derived. The 
generality of saline mineral waters contain a com- 
bination of neutral salts, from all of which nothing 
more can be obtained than from one simple purga- 
tive salt. It is a matter of doubt with some, which 
of those salts are the most valuable; provided, how- 
ever, that they produce the same effect, there is but 
little difference. I am aware that there are but few 
who suspect that the waters of Ballston merely con- 
tain common salt as a purgative; and there are many 
who would be but little inclined to credit it. There 
must be something peculiar or mysterious in the 
quality of any medicine to induce a certain class of 
patients to place confidence in it. Deprive medicine 

P 



114 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

of all its mystery, and you deprive it of a valuable 
auxiliary. This may appear rather a candid acknow- 
ledgment for a physician, yet I am no less per- 
suaded of the truth of it; though I am ready to allow 
that it is too often made use of to conceal real igno- 
rance. How few patients are there who can be trusted 
with the secret of their own complaints, or the know- 
ledge of those medicines which the Physician has 
frequently to prescribe for them. None but those 
who have studied with attention the human mind, 
can judge of the powerful influence of the imagina- 
tion in the cure of diseases. Confidence in a physi- 
cian produces confidence in his prescriptions; thus 
the imagination co-operating with the effect of the 
medicine, the physician practises without embarrass- 
ment, and the patient receives the full benefit arising 
from it. 

That a substance with which we are so familiar 
and which is almost a necessary of life, should be a 
very powerful remedy, does not at once strike every 
person. But combined as this salt is, in this water, 
with other substances, its sensible and even physical 
properties are greatly altered and improved, so much 
so that few of them are attributed to the substances 
which they really contain. 

The effect of muriat of soda or common salt on 
the system, is nearly the same as any other neutral 
salt. It almost always proves purgative; it is more 
stimulating to the stomach and bowels than most 
other salts; and the use of it, for this reason, should 



Waters of Balls ton and Saratoga. 115 

be confined to small quantities, by which means it 
may be persevered in for a much greater length of 
time than most others. 

But it must be obvious how much its qualities 
must be improved in this way by its combination 
with an excess of carbonic acid, so that daily evacu- 
ations from the bowels may be produced without 
debilitating either the stomach or intestines, or im- 
pairing the digestive powers; but on the contrary, 
the appetite, spirits, and general health, will be fre- 
quently improved by the use of these waters. There 
are few constitutions that cannot bear it in small 
quantity; but some judgment is required in the use 
of it, which should be always regulated by its 
effects. 

It has been observed in the analysis, that the waters 
of Ballston and Saratoga differ from each other ex- 
tremely in the quantity of salts which they contain; 
there are, therefore, some diseases in which the 
waters of Bailston may be highly useful, when the 
waters of the Congress spring may be extremely 
injurious. In other cases the Congress spring, from 
its superior purgative quality, may afford greater 
advantage. It shall be my business, when speaking 
of particular diseases, to point out this. 

It is not from its saline contents alone that the 
effects of these waters should be judged; it is from 
the combination of several substances in the aggre- 
gate as we find them combined in the water, that we 
must take advantage. Hence this water may be used 



116 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

as a powerful evacuant as well as a gentle alter- 
ative. At present, therefore, I shall only say, that in 
all diseases requiring a mild and stimulating purga. 
tive, possessing at the same time tonic and deobstru- 
ent qualities, great advantage will be found from the 
use of these waters. 

The next ingredient in some of those springs 
which I shall consider, is the iron with which they 
are impregnated. Small as this appears to be, it is 
equal to any of the most celebrated waters in Ger- 
many or in England, and experience has shown us 
that the use of it is attended with the best effects. 
The effects of iron upon the animal economy are 
very numerous; it stimulates the fibres of the sto- 
mach and other abdominal viscera, increases the 
tone of the muscular fibre, and gives the whole sys- 
tem remarkable energy and vigour. In all cases, 
therefore, of laxity and debility, and in obstructions 
proceeding from these causes, iron is an admirable 
remedy. In all the various forms in which it has 
been given, there is none in which more benefit has 
been obtained from it, than when taken into the sys- 
tem in the state of an oxyd, and in small quantities. 
In this state it is found in the waters of Ballston, 
suspended by the carbonic acid gas, a very powerful 
remedy in itself and a most useful auxiliary in all 
those complaints where iron is found useful. Hence 
chalybeates have been long considered as one of our 
valuable remedies, owing to the manner in which 
the iron is held in solution. In almost any other form 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 117 

that the physician can administer it, some inconve- 
nience attends the use of it; hence Dr. Cullen ob- 
serves, — " Mineral waters often produce cures 
which we in vain attempt to perform by the com- 
binations in our shops, even although these waters 
contain nothing but iron." How much more valu- 
able, then, must these waters be if this is the case, 
where besides the iron we find other very powerful 
ingredients. The extreme quantity of carbonic acid 
which we find in them is a valuable addition. The 
muriat of soda which constitutes it an active saline 
chalybeate, is also of service when not pushed too 
far. In the springs at Ballston in particular, the salts 
are scarcely more than sufficient to counteract the 
astringent effect of the iron without interfering with 
its tonic qualities; on the contrary, by its acting as a 
gentle stimulus to the nerves of the stomach, it may 
promote appetite and digestion. 

There are only a few other substances with which 
these waters are impregnated which require notice. 
Muriat of lime, if found in sufficient quantity, 
must, from our experience of its effects in scrophula 
and glandular obstructions, be considered a useful 
substance. I confess that I have not found it in suffi- 
cient quantity for much stress to be laid on it; and 
unless the opinions of Dr. Murray are well founded, 
and that it should appear hereafter that those waters 
contain more of muriat of lime than has been the 
product of evaporation, I am not disposed to assert 
that much advantage arises either from the quantity 



118 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

of muriat of lime or muriat of magnesia, which any 
of the springs contain. 

There are very few waters that have as yet been 
examined, that are found to contain such a quantity 
of carbonats of lime and magnesia. The Congress 
spring in particular contains 44 § grains in a quart 
of the water. It becomes a question therefore to en- 
quire whether any benefit arises from this substance, 
or whether it becomes injurious when taken into the 
system in such large quantities as many persons 
must do, who drink so profusely of this water. 

Chalk, or what is the same thing, carbonat of 
lime, has always been considered by physicians as a 
useful medicine; and in diseases of the stomach and 
bowels, where a tendency to acidity prevails, has 
been given with success; when combined with an 
acid it has not, like magnesia, a purgative quality, 
but rather the contrary; much of it may be taken 
into the stomach without having any remarkable 
effect; therefore it certainly may be useful in that 
state of the stomach tending to acidity, which pre- 
vails in certain cases of dyspepsia, and its astrin- 
gent effect will be counteracted by the quantity of 
neutral salts which accompany it. Bergman, in his 
instructions for making artificial mineral waters, 
recommends that on all occasions the calcarious 
matter should be left out, from an opinion that they 
are more than of a suspicious character, and do not 
contribute to the salubrity of the water. 

It has been also asserted, that the principal cause 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 119 

of all those tumours in the neck which are called 
Bronchocele, to which the inhabitants of the Alps 
and of Derbyshire are subject, arise from the hard- 
ness of the waters or from the quantity of lime with 
which they are impregnated. However, none of the 
waters in those places contain such a quantity of 
earths as the waters of Ballston or Saratoga; and yet 
I never heard of a person in that district who was 
affected with that complaint, although the children 
use this water and prefer it for their common drink. 

One cause that has been assigned for this disease 
cannot, therefore, be correct; and I am disposed, on 
the whole, to conclude, that there are causes in which 
these carbonats may be of use, and none in which 
they can be injurious. 

Having thus taken a general view of the medicinal 
qualities of these waters, I shall, in the next place, 
point out those particular diseases to which they are 
applicable. 

The first class of diseases which are peculiarly 
benefited by the use of these springs, are those 
which proceed from a disordered state of the func- 
tions of the alimentary canal, or from obstructions of 
any of the viscera, particularly of the biliary organs, 
whether occasioned by irregularity in living, or the 
vicissitudes of climates or seasons. This compre- 
hends a great variety of diseases, which are generally 
and fashionably called Bilious. 

In almost every case of this kind, great relief will 
be found by the use of these waters; but particularly 



120 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

in those chronic cases of long standing which suc- 
ceed an inflammatory attack of the liver, and produce 
a disorganized state of that viscus, causing either an 
excess or a deficiency of bile, or an irregularity of 
its secretion. 

The most effectual means of resolving or remov- 
ing such obstructions is obviously by the intestinal 
canal; and if there is any one remedy more suitable 
than another for this purpose, it should certainly be 
that which is capable of exciting a discharge from 
the bowels for any length of time, without endan- 
gering the constitution or producing any great de- 
bility. Such effects may be expected from the waters 
of Ballston or Saratoga, provided they are usgd with 
caution and judgment. 

After the description which I have already given 
of those waters, it will be perfectly understood in 
what qualities they differ; and therefore under what 
circumstances a choice of either of them should be 
made. Where diseases of the biliary ducts or intes- 
tinal canal are produced rather by an excess than a 
deficiency of bile, and are attended with an increased 
discharge rather than a constipated state of the bow- 
els, it will readily occur that recourse should be had 
to the waters of Ballston; but as it is more frequently 
the case, that the action of the bowels in this com- 
plaint is not only sluggish, but irregular; and as cos- 
tiveness is a prevailing symptom, more benefit may 
be expected from the waters of the Congress Spring 
at Saratoga, which is much more powerful as a 



i 



Waters o/Ballston and Saratoga. 121 

cathartic; and may, with proper management, be 
made to promote a regular discharge from the bowels 
as long as the case requires it. 

On this part of the subject, where I conceive so 
little judgment and discretion is used, I hope I may 
be permitted to state my opinion. 

Whatever benefit may be expected from any of 
those waters, can only be obtained by drinking them 
in such quantities and at such times as the experi- 
ence of a physician may point out. The regulations 
which are thought necessary and are adopted in 
other countries during the use of a mineral water, 
are either unknown or neglected here. There seems 
to be no guide to the use of them, but that which is 
the natural guide of all animals, which is to drink 
till the stomach is satiated. As little attention is paid 
to the time of drinking those waters: they are used 
at all hours by most persons, — as often in the even- 
ing as the morning, — under an impression that no 
injury can be produced by them, and that the greater 
the quantity, the greater the benefit. 

It may appear rather incredible to some, but it 
is no less true, that by this mode of practice the 
stomach has been brought to bear such a quantity 
of this water, as would be thought to exceed its 
usual dimensions. I have known more than one in- 
stance where a person has drank seventy-five half 
pint tumblers in the course of one day; and as nearly 
as I could discover, I found few persons who were 
satisfied with less than ten tumblers three times 

Q 



122 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

a-day, as the use of it is as frequent in the evening 
as in the morning. 

That serious injury arises from this extravagant 
use of the water cannot be doubted. There are two 
principal causes from whence it arises: the first is an 
opinion that no possible benefit can be received from 
the use of a mineral water unless the effect is obvi- 
ous and immediate; the next is, that few who fre- 
quent this place can afford that leisure from busi- 
ness which is necessary to remain sufficiently long 
to obtain real and permanent benefit from a course 
of them. The consequence is, as I have been more 
than once informed, that such persons think they 
should take every advantage of their short stay, and 
drink as much of the water as possible. 

From this strange and incautious mode of drink- 
ing them, serious injury arises. Many of those who 
would otherwise receive the relief which they sought 
for, find in some instances an aggravation of their 
complaints, while others receive no effectual benefit. 
The natural consequence is, that the reputation of 
such waters is diminished; when the whole arises 
from the improper use of them. 

It will, I presume, be readily allowed, that as it 
requires a certain degree of experience to form a 
skilful physician, so is it equally essential to have a 
correct knowledge of the medicines which he pre- 
scribes, whether it is in the form of a mineral water 
or any other. If the test of experience is thus to be 
relied upon, we must look for information to those 



IVaters of Ballston and Saratoga. 123 

whose extensive practice at those places which are 
most celebrated in Europe, has taught them the most 
judicious application of mineral waters to a variety 
of diseases. From consulting the best authors on this 
subject, and from my own experience, I am pre- 
pared to say that the practice of other countries with 
respect to the mode of making use of mineral waters, 
differs essentially from the general custom adopted 
in these states. And unless some more satisfactory 
explanation can be given than that which I have 
usually heard, I cannot be persuaded but the general 
practice of this country is not the most judicious. 
Great stress has been laid on difference of climate 
and difference of constitution: even this is by no 
means satisfactory. The human constitution does not 
differ so extremely in two different countries nearly 
under the same latitude, as totally to change the 
practice of medicine. That some diseases are more 
frequent here than in Europe, will be allowed; that 
others piit on a different type, and require somewhat 
of a different treatment, may also be granted; but 
that the same diseases which are relieved and often 
cured by a certain mode of drinking the mineral 
waters in Europe, should require so very opposite a 
plan here, cannot be so readily granted, without much 
more experience than has yet been obtained in this 
country. 

To lay down particular rules for the general use 
of these or any other waters, would require a much 
more extensive discussion of the various diseases in 



124 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

which they are useful, than would be expedient in a 
treatise of this nature. 

I shall, therefore, principally confine myself to the 
most eligible course to be pursued by invalids who 
have recourse to those waters for their health; re- 
marking" particularly on the cautions to be observed 
by those who, without advice or reflection, so copi- 
ously make use of these fountains. 

It will be readily understood that the use of these 
waters should be chiefly confined to those chronic 
cases of disease where all traces of active inflamma- 
tion have subsided, such as complaints of the biliary 
organs, of the alimentary canal, or any of the viscera, 
arising principally, as I have before observed, either 
from intemperance or from climate, and frequently 
accompanied with jaundice. These are a class of dis- 
eases for which such waters as Ballston or Saratoga 
have been considered a sort of specific; and I think 
I may venture to assert, that there are few such pa- 
tients who would not be effectually relieved by the 
use of them. The first circumstance to be attended 
to is the choice of the spring, as much more depends 
upon this than the generality of persons are aware 
of; indeed so much, that if possible it should always 
be regulated by the advice of a physician on the 
spot. Whatever confidence a person may place in 
their family physician at home, it must be evident 
that he is not always the best qualified to advise 
under all the variety of effects which may be pro- 
duced by the use of a mineral water, the qualities of 



Waters ofBalhton and Saratoga. 125 

which he cannot be supposed to be entirely ac- 
quainted with. More instances than one have I ob- 
served of the injury which has been produced by a 
pertinacious adherence to the advice of a family phy- 
sician, which he had kindly furnished his patient 
with in writing for his guidance at a distance; and 
who, without detracting in any respect from his 
merit as a physician, was most probably totally unac- 
quainted with the nature and effects of those waters 
which he prescribed. 

In all those complaints of the biliary organs which 
I have here referred to, it will be most judicious to 
commence with the water of the Congress Spring; 
particularly if there are any symptoms of obstruction 
in the biliary ducts, attended with jaundice. In such 
cases there is generally a tendency to costiveness, 
and as this water contains sufficient salts to render 
it a mild purgative, it should obviously be preferred. 
With respect to the quantity which should be taken, 
much of this depends upon the constitution of the 
patient and the first effect of the water. One certain 
rule, however, may be laid down, which is, that its 
good effects will depend upon the regular discharge 
which it produces from the bowels, without weaken- 
ing the tone of the stomach, or producing debility; 
and if some such effect as this is not produced in 
a short time, recourse must be had to some more 
active remedy. 

Patients who commence a course of these waters, 
should begin with drinking one or two half pint 



126 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

tumblers early in the morning, about an hour or two 
before breakfast, and at intervals of a few minutes, 
using a little exercise between each glass. If these 
have no effect, a third, or perhaps a fourth, may be 
drank; but if these should produce no effect on the 
bowels, nor act as a diuretic, the stomach will be- 
come distended, headache and giddiness will proba- 
bly supervene, the appetite will be impaired, and the 
whole system disturbed. In this case it is not only 
useless, but dangerous, to persevere, as increasing 
the dose will only aggravate these unpleasant symp- 
toms. It may, however, be again drank in the same 
manner about an hour or two before dinner; when, 
if the same symptoms are produced, recourse must 
be had to other remedies. 

Perhaps one of the best modes of practice in such 
a case would be, to take a few grains of the pil. aloet. 
comp. combined with a small quantity of calomel, at 
bedtime, commencing next morning with a few 
glasses of the water; by this means the bowels will 
be excited to action, and less of the water will be 
required. All those symptoms, arising from reple- 
tion, which were brought on by such a quantity of 
the mineral water, will then disappear; an agreeable 
sensation will be produced in the stomach by the 
use of it, and exhilaration of spirits and increase of 
appetite will be the natural consequence. 

The use of this water may be continued in this 
manner for a considerable time without any debili- 
tating effect; and after a few weeks, recourse may 



Waters ofBallston and Saratoga. 127 

be had to the waters of Ballston, which are not so 
purgative, and as containing more iron are more 
tonic, and more capable of restoring the tone of the 
system, while they still possess sufficient salts to 
counteract any astringent quality which it may pos- 
sess. 

So much injury arises from the enormous quantity 
of this water which many think it necessary to drink 
in order to produce a cathartic effect, that other ex- 
pedients may be suggested besides that which has 
already been mentioned. At Cheltenham it is not 
unusual to add a little of a strong solution of the 
crystallized salt to the water on those occasions. This 
is by no means injudicious, particularly as you add the 
same kind of salt with which the water itself is im- 
pregnated, and as it is always effectual in its opera- 
tion. I have made use occasionally of the same 
practice at Ballston, and with the same success, but 
always recollecting that it should be a neutral salt 
which is not capable of decomposing the muriat of 
soda; in this manner the phosphat of soda, which is 
an effectual and agreeable purgative, may be added 
to the water. Two or three drachms of it previously 
dissolved in a little soft water, may be added to a 
glass of Ballston water fresh from the spring, without 
any decomposition taking place, and with a manifest 
increase of its purgative quality, whenever it is re- 
quired. 

Something of this kind should always be recom- 
mended, rather than increase the dose of the water to 



128 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

such a degree as, from the quantity of carbonic acid 
which it contains, as well as its alkaline earths, can 
never be drank in such a manner with impunity. 

Had I not been witness to the custom of drinking 
those waters at very unusual hours, particularly in 
the evening, I should scarcely think it necessary to 
say any thing on this subject; but finding that this 
practice is general here, and that the springs are as 
much frequented from dinner till bedtime as in the 
morning, I cannot omit making a few observations 
on so injudicious a practice. 

I have searched in vain for any author who has 
recommended it; and from every thing which I have 
learned, and every thing I have observed myself at 
other places, I can venture with confidence to say, 
that there are very few instances indeed where the 
waters should be taken in the evening. 

In Germany, where most attention is paid to this 
subject, and where the use of mineral waters should 
be well understood, no such practice as this pre- 
vails; and of so much consequence is it thought to 
make use of such waters with caution and judgment, 
that the practice is in some degree regulated by the 
government, who appoint a physician to attend for 
that purpose. At Cheltenham in England the prac- 
tice of drinking the water late in the evening has so 
little prevailed, that the well is regularly closed at 
two o'clock, and no access to it allowed till six the 
next morning. 

If a mineral water is possessed of any powerful 



Waters ofBallston and Saratoga. 129 

medicinal qualities, (and that the waters I treat of 
are possessed of them cannot be doubted) then it 
must be allowed that the use of them should be 
regulated by the same rules that are practised with 
respect to all medicines whatsoever. 

Those waters are chiefly useful when their purga- 
tive operation is gentle and regular; they should, 
therefore, be taken in sufficient quantity to produce 
this effect, and not at very long intervals; and when 
this effect is produced, time should be given the 
stomach and bowels to recover their tone, which 
would be greatly impaired by too frequent a repeti- 
tion of the dose of the water. Such would be the 
plan that a physician would naturally pursue when 
advising a medicine. When, therefore, the operation 
of the water during the morning has been sufficiently 
apparent, there is no farther necessity for it during 
the rest of the evening, and more particularly after a 
full meal. It is, I am convinced, in consequence of 
the prevalence of this practice, that fewer persons 
are relieved than we usually hear of at Ballston. 

By a proper attention to these observations, a 
course of these waters in such complaints as I have 
here recommended them, may be pursued for four 
or five weeks without palling the appetite or injur- 
ing the digestive powers, which too frequent and 
habitual a use of them will naturally produce. Dr. 
Pothergill, whose experience on such subjects may 
be relied upon, when speaking of the virtues of the 
waters of Cheltenham, makes similar remarks, and 

R 



130 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

farther observes, that the use of them should be 
occasionally even suspended for a day in each week, 
in order to give the system a proper respite, and to 
prevent the water losing part of its efficacy through 
habit. It ought also to be left off in the same gradual 
manner that it was begun, using for the space of two 
or three weeks after it a more abstemious diet, and 
guarding against costiveness. 

Persons affected with such diseases as I have de- 
scribed, should pay particular attention to diet and 
regimen; those who are liable to frequent returns of 
biliary attacks, should live temperately, avoiding all 
unwholesome food and meats which are not easy of 
digestion; all kinds of fermented liquors are impro- 
per; and as intemperance, particularly in the use of 
spirituous liquors, is too frequently an exciting 
cause of those complaints which arise from affections 
of the liver, persons who feel any predisposition to 
such a disease, should guard with the utmost care 
against the baneful use of spirits under any form. 

At dinner all the lighter kinds of meat roasted, 
such as veal, lamb, or chickens, may be made use 
of, but vegetables very sparingly; and if fruits are 
permitted, they should be such as are perfectly ripe, 
such as strawberries and gooseberries. In those 
cases most particularly where the water affects the 
bowels rather freely, and where there is no suspicion 
of an inflammatory affection, a few glasses of good 
wine may be always taken after dinner with manifest 
advantage. This will contribute to support the tone 



J Fa ters of Ballston and Sara toga . 131 

of the system; and when assisted by social and 
agreeable conversation, it tends to amuse the mind 
and restore the spirits, — circumstances of no small 
importance to all persons labouring under chronic 
complaints, who expect to reap permanent benefit 
from these waters or any course of medicine. 

The same cautions should be made use of with 
respect to breakfast as have been given with respect 
to dinner, particularly as in this country breakfast is 
a meal where the appetite is unnecessarily indulged. 
Besides the usual beverage of tea and coffee, meats 
of all kind both fried and broiled, and fish both salt 
and fresh and in a variety of forms, are introduced. 
I should be rather inclined to give an opinion that 
even in the best health such an indulgence, to say 
the least of it, is unnecessary; and certainly it is at- 
tended with no apparent advantage, as it is manifest 
that those who accustom themselves to such break- 
fasts are neither stouter nor healthier than those who 
live differently. Custom, however, reconciles this 
diet to those who are used to it; and after long habit, 
it would be a difficult matter to persuade some per- 
sons here that a breakfast, which was not principally 
made up of salt fish and beef steaks, could be nutri- 
cious. 

But there are other objections of rather a serious 
nature to such breakfasts, particularly while under a 
course of mineral waters. Salt fish and salt meat 
when taken at breakfast have a natural tendency to 
produce thirst in the course of the morning; to re~ 



132 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

lieve which, recourse must be had to some liquid 
drink. It would be well under such circumstances 
if nothing more injurious than water was usually 
taken; but it is very much to be feared that this is 
not always the case, and that by degrees a habit is 
acquired of making use of spirits in addition, and 
thus a custom of drinking in the morning may be 
induced, not more prejudicial to the morals than 
injurious to the constitution. 

To those, therefore, who have no complaints ex- 
cept, perhaps, what this mode of diet occasionally 
induces, I shall venture to make no appeal; but I 
may be allowed to remark, that, upon every principle 
of medicine, those who are commencing a course of 
these waters should be satisfied with lighter break- 
fasts than are generally used. Neither salt meat nor 
salt fish should ever be allowed. If any sort of fresh 
meat should be permitted, it should be that which is 
very light and either cold or broiled, avoiding in par- 
ticular that which is either fried or stewed with 
much butter, as is the common practice. But the 
usual light breakfast, consisting of tea or coffee with 
toast and an egg slightly boiled, is much to be pre- 
ferred during a course of these waters; and particu- 
larly as it is taken in so short a period after the water 
has been drank at the fountain. 

In addition to these rules in regard to diet and 
regimen, I shall not omit to inculcate exercise; as 
of all the various methods of preserving health and 
preventing diseases which nature has suggested, per- 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 133 

haps there is none more efficacious than attention to 
exercise. It contributes to the circulation of the 
fluids, it strengthens the solids, and promotes perspi- 
ration. Without exercise, particularly in that class 
of diseases which are usually called nervous, neither 
medicine or mineral water will have much effect. 
Let those, therefore, who frequent such places for 
the benefit of their health, take as much exercise in 
the open air as they conveniently can. When patients 
are weak or have been accustomed to a sedentary 
life, their exercise should at first be gentle, and on 
horseback or in a carriage, and gradually increased 
until their strength can bear the exercise of walking; 
but in general the exercise of riding should be pre- 
ferred, as it is not attended with the fatigue of walk- 
ing, and the free air in this way is rather more en- 
joyed. The best time for exercise when the weather 
permits is between breakfast and dinner, as the body 
is then more vigorous and alert, and the mind more 
cheerful; the appetite is by this means promoted, 
and the stomach enabled to perform its functions 
properly. 

Exercise after a full meal can never be wholesome; 
it disturbs digestion, and causes painful sensations in 
the stomach and bowels, with acid eructations. For 
this reason it will be improper for invalids to take 
exercise immediately after dinner, before the process 
of digestion has been in any degree performed. The 
instinct of all animals lead us to this conclusion, as 
even the beasts of the field instinctively rest them- 



134 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 



selves when the stomach is full. It is certainly too 
much the custom here to rise immediately from 
table and proceed at once to business of some kind 
or other; and it may be suspected that some of 
those diseases of the stomach with which so many 
are afflicted, are, if not originally induced, materially 
aggravated by this practice. A moment's reflection 
will satisfy any person that both the mind and the 
body should be left for some time after meals to 
cheerfulness and rest. Hurrying out from a full meal 
and a warm room into a frigid or a torrid atmosphere, 
to intense study or to a calculating counting room, 
is not the best adapted to preserve health or to relieve 
disease. 

For the cure of dyspepsia the waters of Ballston 
have been long celebrated, and the great majority of 
the visiters are persons who consider themselves as 
affected with this complaint. I am by no means dis- 
posed to deny that this is not a very frequent and 
common disease in this country, or that in many 
instances the waters of Ballston may not be used with 
advantage; but I have had many reasons to convince 
me that this name is often given to diseases of a very 
different character. Whenever the system is dis- 
turbed, and that the appetite and digestion are im- 
paired, a variety of anomalous symptoms are pro- 
duced, attended with a certain anxiety of mind which 
it is difficult always to account for; but to which, 
however perplexed may be the physician, it is always 
expected he must give some name, Under these cir- 



Waters ofBalkton and Saratoga. 135 

cumstances, perhaps the name of dyspepsia is as 
convenient as any other, particularly as it is a fashion- 
able one, and conveys no alarm to the patient. Dys- 
pepsia is not in general a dangerous disease; it sel- 
dom proves fatal except when it continues so long 
as to produce great general debility. A long train 
of symptoms usually attend this disease, such as 
loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, fla- 
tulency, and acid eructations, irregularity in the dis- 
charge from the bowels, and frequently obstinate 
costiveness, 

These symptoms seldom appear till the middle 
period of life, and are generally induced by irregu- 
larity of life, intense application to business or study, 
exposure to vicissitudes of weather, and want of 
accustomed exercise; to which I may add, as more 
peculiar to this country, the excessive use of tobacco 
in every form, particularly that of smoking or chew- 
ing, both of which excite the salivary glands to action, 
and produce that disgusting and common practice 
of spitting, a practice than which, perhaps, there is 
none more injurious to the progress of digestion, or 
so liable to induce dyspepsia. It deprives the stomach 
of part of its gastric juice, and brings on a variety of 
nervous symptoms, attended with loss of appetite, 
general emaciation, and debility. 

These are the symptoms of genuine dyspepsia; 
and for the cure of which disease, I know of no bet- 
ter remedy than the waters of Ballston. But much 
attention should be given to the use of them; and as 



136 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

the disease is one of debility, it can only be effectually 
relieved by whatever tends to strengthen and in- 
vigorate the tone of the stomach. Chalybeates, there- 
fore, have been long celebrated for the cure of this 
complaint; they have been, however, recommended 
too indiscriminately, under an erroneous impression 
that all mineral waters are nearly the same. In trivial 
cases a simple chalybeate, when persevered in for a 
length of time, has been known to alleviate many of 
the symptoms. But it will be recollected, however, 
that Ballston water is not a simple chalybeate, but 
that as it possesses other very powerful ingredients, 
it is greatly to be preferred to every other. The Con- 
gress Spring is not so well calculated for the cure of 
dyspepsia, and should never be had recourse to in 
this disorder except in those cases where obstinate 
costiveness in an urgent symptom. 

The same rules which I have already suggested 
for the use of this water should be attended to here, 
but even with more caution, as it is from its tonic 
qualities that its principal benefit is derived. It 
should therefore be drank rather sparingly, never in 
such a quantity as to act powerfully as a cathartic, 
which would only increase the debility. The diet 
should be more free and generous than in other com- 
plaints, and a moderate use of wine may be allowed 
where it does not become acid on the stomach; 
otherwise weak brandy and water may be substi- 
tuted. 

I have found an idea prevailing at Ballston that 



JVaters ofBallston and Saratoga, 137 

wine should never be permitted during a course of 
these waters, as it has been frequently asserted 
that this water and wine do not assimilate in the 
stomach. From whence this opinion proceeds, I con- 
fess myself ignorant; or while so little atttntion is 
paid to the quantity and quality of the food that is 
takt n into the stomach, so great an objection should 
arise to the smallest quantity of wine. Let it be re- 
collected that the cases in which these waters are 
principally beneficial, are cases of debility; and that 
though the waters if properly used would act as a 
tonic, yet in most cases they are drank in such 
quantities as to produce a contrary effect. It can 
scarcely, therefore, be doubted but to counteract the 
debility thus induced, a few glasses of wine may be 
safely permitted after dinner. All writers whom I 
have ever consulted agree in this matter. The names 
of Saunders, Smith, Fothergill, and Garnett, are suf- 
ficient if there could be any doubt on the subject. 
The advantages of air and exercise admirably co- 
incide with the curative effect of those springs. The 
mind is to be amused at the same time that the body 
is employed; and as there is often such a depression 
of spirits as borders on hypochondriasm, all occupa- 
tions of business which produce either care or anx- 
iety should be studiously avoided, while the mind 
should be diverted to other objects. Hence is it that 
such places of public resort, where cheerfulness and 
society are always to be found, are very justly ob» 

S 



138 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

served to co-operate so much with the medicinal 
qualities of the mineral water. 

The above observations are intended to apply to 
cases of genuine dyspepsia; but so many have fre- 
quented these waters, particularly from the northern 
states, who are persuaded that they labour under this 
complaint, and therefore have erroneous views of the 
mode of cure, that though I am inclined to fear that 
I differ from the faculty in that place, yet I cannot 
dismiss the subject without stating the grounds of 
my opinion. v 

In Boston in particular, of late years a disorder has 
prevailed to which the faculty have given the name 
of dyspepsia; to doubt the propriety of which, would 
seem to be an instance of some presumption. As far 
as my observations have gone, a complaint somewhat 
similar is there a very frequent disease. It princi- 
pally makes its attacks at a very early period of life, 
reducing the patient to the utmost state of emaciation 
and debility: many of the symptoms are such as are 
usually observed in dyspepsia; they are continued 
for a length of time, and are aggravated in the winter 
months. Children of the age of ten or twelve years 
are not exempted from it, and some of the finest 
young men in the country are attacked with it from 
the age of fifteen to twenty-one. It soon reduces the 
patient to a state of the utmost debility and emaci- 
ation, such as is usual in the last stage of phthisis 
pulmonalis; the countenance is altered, the cheeks 
are prominent, the eyes look hollow and languid, 



Waters ofBallston and Saratoga. 139 

the hair often falls off, the nails are of a livid colour, 
and the pulse becomes so low that I have in one 
instance been able to count only forty, five strokes in 
a minute. The persons most liable to this complaint 
are remarkable for a particular formation; a long 
neck, prominent shoulders, narrow chest, clear skin, 
and thick upper lip, with other marks of a scrophu- 
lous diathesis. They have no cough, nor can any 
suspicion be entertained of an affection of the lungs 
during the whole of the disease. If I am correct in 
those appearances, have we not much ground for sus- 
picion that there is a scrophulous disposition in the 
system, and that the whole of those symptoms arise 
from an obstruction in some of the lymphatic glands 
in the neighbourhood of the stomach, or in those of 
the mesentery, similar to incipient tubercles of the 
lungs, and rendering them incapable of conveying 
chyle or nourishment to the system; thus arises that 
emaciation which constitutes a species of marasmus, 
and is so similar to that which occurs in the latter 
stage of consumption. 

However unpromising those appearances are, yet 
as in scrophula, such cases seldom end fatally. The 
disease continues for a few years till the body attains 
full growth and strength; it then gradually disappears, 
and perfect health is at last restored. I know of one 
instance at present in a young female where all 
those symptoms run their course, but who is now 
restored to health and animation; and I could state 
others who, under the most discouraging symptoms 



140 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

and at the period of life when scrophula usually dis- 
appears, have equally recovered. 

A few reflections now arise out of such cases, in 
order to prove that they cannot be considered as 
ca>es of genuine dyspepsia. 

First, the attack does not commence at that period 
of life that dyspepsia usually does. Dyspepsia is a 
disease of the middle aged; scrophula, of the young. 
Secondly, dyspepsia is the disease rather of warm cli- 
mates, and is relieved by change to a cooler one; 
scrophula is the disease of a cold climate such as the 
eastern states, and the symptoms are always aggra- 
vated in the winter months and relieved in the sum- 
mer; so much is this even acknowledged in the 
eastern states, that persons who are affected with this 
complaint, there denominated dyspepsia, are always 
benefited by change in the winter to a warmer cli- 
mate, 

The exciting causes also of dyspepsia are as dif- 
ferent as possible from that of scrophula. In the mind 
of the one there is a gloomy anxiety and predisposi- 
tion to melancholy, while those who are predisposed 
to the other are youths of animated dispositions, su- 
perior intellects, and refined sensibility. 

The practical inferences which may be drawn 
from the above are, that if such are the symptoms of 
this complaint, it should be considered as connected 
with a scrophulous taint at least, and arising from a 
diseased state of those glands which are situated in 
the neighbourhood of the viscera. 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 141 

Of all remedies, therefore, which I am acquainted 
with, I should with confidence recommend such 
mineral waters as Ballston and Saratoga. But if it is 
expected that a cure is to be performed by very- 
large doses of either of them in a few days, the pa- 
tient will be grievously disappointed; on the con- 
trary, it is only by a regular perseverance for the 
greater part of the summer that any benefit can be 
expected; and though the terms alterative and deob- 
struent are almost exploded from medicine, yet I am 
not altogether disinclined to think that they contain 
some meaning, and that in cases where the lymphatic 
glands are obstructed such waters* have what have 
been called deobstruent qualities. 

One season at these waters will not always be 
sufficient, in a complaint which has been known to 
last for years before it disappears. 

With respect to the use of a bath, I am disposed 
greatly to prefer that of the hot to a cold bath for 
very obvious reasons, and also that the bath should 
be frequently used and of a high temperature. In 
cases of scrophula which break out on the surface 
of the body, I am aware that the cold bath is pre- 
ferred, but in such cases the general health is not so 
impaired, and there is no great debility; but in the 
complaint which I treat of, where the organs of the 
stomach and bowels are the seat of the disease, and 
where there is so much general debility, there may 
be some danger that there is not sufficient reaction 



142 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

in the system to render the use of the cold bath either 
a safe or a useful remedy. 

Whenever it is practicable after the season of 
drinking the water is over, it would be highly ad- 
visable to remove for the winter months to a warmer 
climate. By such a change great benefit will be de- 
rived, and a relapse during the winter prevented. The 
same cautions which I have given in genuine dys- 
pepsia, may be repeated here. The water should be 
drank in moderation only before breakfast and be- 
tween breakfast and dinner. Ballston water should 
be principally relied upon, though occasionally to 
open the bowels^jthat of the Congress Spring may be 
used. The diet should rather be full and generous, 
and the use of a moderate quantity of wine may be 
permitted. 

I proceed now, as connected with this subject, to 
the use of these waters in scrophula in general, ex- 
hibiting itself in the usual form externally. This is a 
complaint of so peculiar a character, that however 
unwilling many are to acknowledge any disposition 
towards it, yet few can mistake its appearance. 

For this disorder unfortunately we have no certain 
cure or specific; it generally runs its course, but 
many of its most disagreeable effects may be ar- 
rested by proper care and attention in the first stages 
of it. 

One of those remedies which have been found 
most useful, has been sea water used externally and 
internally. Plentiful dilution of this water, on account 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 143 

of the saline matter which it contains, has been re- 
commended as one of the most useful remedies. But 
whatever encomiums it may merit, all these good 
effects may be obtained from the saline waters of 
either Ballston or Saratoga. They may be used in 
sufficient quantity to act moderately only on the 
bowels, for since scrophula is generally accompanied 
with a debilitated state of the system, purging will 
be improper; besides, it prevents the water from en- 
tering the blood. Ballston spring is, therefore, best 
calculated for scrophulous complaints, since the por- 
tion of salt which it contains is just sufficient to make 
it act as a gentle stimulus upon the excretories, 
without causing it to operate too powerfully on the 
intestines. By this means it will be taken into the 
blood, enter into the most minute vessels of the 
body, and promote all the secretions, while the iron 
which it contains will tend to remove the debility, 
which, if not originally the cause of the disease, 
always retards its cure. 

With the same intention a cold bath may be used, 
if there is not too great a debility to render it hazard- 
ous; and if any scrophulous swellings or ulcers are 
present, cloths kept continually wet with the same 
water may be applied to those tumours. The bath 
which should be preferred is that from the Congress 
Spring, as being more saline and coming nearer to 
sea water. To add to the tonic effect of this water, 
the patient should make use of a light, nutritive, 
and generous diet; he should breathe a pure dry 



i 



144 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

air, make frequent use of the flesh brush, and take 
moderate exercise daily. 

While I am on the subject of the use of these 
waters in particular complaints, it may be thought 
an omission should I pass without observation the 
effect which may be expected from them in the dis- 
eases of females. However much these complaints 
have engaged my attention in the course of my 
practice, yet I am aware that in a work which is not 
altogether professedly medical, this subject should, 
for very obvious reasons ol delicacy, be but inciden- 
tally touched on; to pass it by altogether, would, 
however, be to omit one of the most valuable quali- 
ties of these waters. From long experience I have 
the most decided conviction that the origin of all 
female complaints may be traced to debility; and 
whether arising from obstructions, or the contrary, 
they may be ranked under that class of diseases 
which depend upon relaxation, and which can only 
be effectually relieved by tonic medicines. Those 
who suffer most under these complaints are affected 
with the usual symptoms of debility, such as paleness 
of the countenance, inclination to syncope, palpita- 
tion of the heart, loss of appetite and various other 
symptoms of dyspepsia, sluggishness, lassitude, and 
headache, followed frequently by (edematous swel- 
lings of the feet. These, it must be allowed, are all 
symptoms of debility; and if I know of any one 
remedy more capable than another to remove such 
complaints, I should say such mineral waters as Ball- 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 145 

ston were most advisable. Iron., in whatever form we 
can best apply it, is the medicine which in such 
cases a judicious physician would have recourse to. 
In the waters of Ballston, we have found it in suffi- 
cient quantity to show strong chalybeate qualities. 
But if there are any one class of patients more 
than another who require to be cautioned in the use 
of mineral waters, it is perhaps those of the female 
sex whom I am now addressing. I have seen too 
many instances of the injury arising to such young 
persons in particular, from the incautious use of 
purgative mineral waters, not to guard them against 
it. That which may be a valuable remedy if taken 
with judgment and moderation, becomes seriously 
injurious if taken incautiously. In order, therefore, 
to render those waters efficacious in such diseases as 
I have described, the first circumstance to be at- 
tended to is, that the patient selects that well which 
contains the most iron, and the least salt, lest the 
purgative effect of these salts may counteract the 
tonic effect of the iron, and increase that debility 
which it is intended to remove. Ballston water there- 
fore, in cases of debility and relaxation of the system, 
should generally be preferred to the Congress Spring; 
but if it should be found that the astringent qualities 
of the one should require the occasional use of a pur- 
gative, recourse may sometimes be had to the more 
saline waters. 

It should never be forgot that in commencing a 
eourse of these waters, the patient should begin with 

T 



146 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

small quantities; one or two half pint glasses are fully 
sufficient before breakfast, and the same quantity 
may be repeated in the middle of the day, panieu- 
larly if the purgative effect of them is not intended 
or wished for. It is from the iron, the carbonic acid 
gas, and perhaps from the stimulating effect of the 
small quantity of common salt which these waters 
contain, that the whole benefit of them may be ex- 
pected; and as in all cases of the uses of steel, more 
benefit arises from the length of time which it is 
persevered in than from the quantity taken at any- 
one period, it will be necessary that the use of this 
water should be regularly persevered in for a month 
or six weeks; without attention to this, little perma- 
nent benefit can be expected in any chronic case of 
this nature. However, on this subject I have already 
given my opinion very fully. 

There is a proneness to inactivity in the complaint 
which I here treat of, which requires particular 
exertion to counteract. Without attention to exercise, 
particularly on horseback, those waters, or indeed 
any other, will be less effectual. The occasional use 
of the warm bath will also be found highly beneficial 
during a course of these waters. A light but generous 
diet may be allowed; and as whatever promotes the 
animal spirits will have great influence in the cure of 
such diseases as these, such persons should en- 
deavor to employ their time in cheerful and agreeable 
amusements, indulging moderately in the sprightly 
dance, and guarding against all sources of uneasiness 



Waters of B distort and Saratoga. 147 

or anxiety of mind, the too frequent cause of such 
diseases in females of refined sensibility. 

Among other diseases which are greatly relieved 
by the use of these waters, I may mention the he- 
morrhois or piles. One of the principal symptoms in 
this complaint, and indeed one of the exciting causes 
of it, is a tendency to costiveness, which produces 
some of the most distressing symptoms. The dis- 
ease itself, though a most disagreeable one, is by no 
means a dangerous one; and when it has remained so 
long as to become habitual, perhaps it should not 
be suddenly suppressed. It sometimes arises from 
plethora or fulness of the vessels, attended with great 
pain and inflammation; at other times it is produced 
by debility, or relaxation of the vessels. These two 
cases require different modes of treatment. In the first 
case, where there is a plethora in the system, and where 
the hemorrhois are attended with pain and inflam- 
mation, it would be highly expedient before com- 
mencing a course of those waters, to open the bowels 
with some more certain and effectual purgative than 
any of them; when the action of the bowels is thus 
excited, it may be regularly kept up by a daily use 
of the waters of the Congress Spring, without ex- 
citing any irritation or producing excessive debility. 
But as there are also cases where the hemorrhois 
have been caused originally by relaxation, or where 
this relaxation and debility has been produced by a 
long continuance of the disease, and from an exces- 
sive discharge from the hemorrhoidal vessels, a mode 



148 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

of treatment somewhat different should be pursued. 
While costiveness should diligently and carefully be 
guarded against, recourse may be had to the Ballston 
water, as being more tonic and less purgative. The 
utmost attention should also be paid to diet and 
regimen. The food should be as light as possible; 
the patient should sleep cool, and on a mattrass; 
moderate exercise on foot or in a carriage may be 
allowed, but that of a more violent kind should be 
avoided. 

Among the diseases with which the human body 
is afflicted, perhaps there are few more dangerous 
and troublesome than worms. There are a great 
variety of them with which the system is affected; 
and it unfortunately happens that it is not always 
easy to distinguish the symptoms which characterize 
this disease, as many of those complaints which 
children in particular are subject to, are attributed too 
often to worms which do not exist. Nothing can 
really decide the nature of the complaint, but the 
proof that worms have been discharged. However, 
as the symptoms which generally accompany this 
complaint are decisive evidence of a foulness in the 
stomach and bowels, attended with a preternatural 
discharge of mucus and slimy matter, and as relaxa- 
tion and debility is the natural consequence of such 
a state of the bowels* it will readily occur to those 
who have any knowledge of these waters, that they 
may be used by persons affected with symptoms of 
worms with the most decided advantage. The waters 



Waters of Ba list on and Saratoga. 149 

of Harrogate have been celebrated in the cure of 
such complaints; and Dr. Alexander, whose authority 
as a physician must have great weight, observes that 
these waters " are the most sovereign remedies yet 
discovered." A reference to the synoptical table will 
show how far these waters resemble those which I 
treat of. With respect to their most essential quali- 
ties, they must be allowed to be inferior to those 
either of Baliston or Saratoga, unless the sulphur 
with which they are impregnated gives them any 
peculiar advantage, nor am I disposed to deny that 
it may have some specific effect in the removal of 
worms; however, 1 am satisfied that there are very 
few cases indeed in which the waters of Saratoga 
will not procure effectual relief; and as the Congress 
Spring contains more of the muriat of soda than any 
of the rest, this should be always preferred; but 
previous to the use of it, I would recommend one or 
two doses of rhubarb and calomel according to the 
age of the patient, after which the water may be 
drank in sufficient quantity to keep up a regular dis- 
charge from the bowels, till the whole of the worms 
are discharged, after which the waters of Baliston 
may be used with more advantage to restore the 
tone of the system, recollecting that in this as in all 
such cases, a cure cannot be expected in one of 
those short visits which are generally made to this 
place. 

I should not omit remarking, that there is one 
species of worm called the ascarides, with which 



.. 



150 Oti the Medicinal Qualities of the 

children in particular are affected; it is generally 
seated in the rectum, producing the most distressing 
symptoms. Besides the internal use of those waters 
in sufficient quantity to act as a purgative, great 
benefit may occasionally be obtained in such a case 
by injections of the Saratoga water thrown up into 
the intestines. This practice is very much recom- 
mended at Harrogate, and is frequently attended 
with the most effectual relief. 

Attention to diet is as necessary here, and perhaps 
more so, than in most other complaints; and as it is 
one of the most prevailing diseases of children, and 
is oftener than is suspected brought on by improper 
diet, parents cannot be too cautious in guarding 
against such imprudence, as well as the too com- 
mon indulgence of permitting their children to follow 
the guidance of their own appetites. 

Those who are suspected of worms, should ab- 
stain from all crude vegetables and unripe fruits, and 
more particularly guard against that prevailing taste 
for cucumbers, melons, &c. which, except in very 
particular circumstances, are never to be allowed. 
The diet should be easy of digestion, and should 
consist chiefly of wholesome bread and animal food 
that is light and nutritive. 

Among a variety of diseases for which these waters 
have been long celebrated, may be mentioned erup- 
tions of the skin. It is with me, however, a matter 
of some doubt, whether they are so generally useful 
as has been supposed. Though this is a disease which 



Waters of Balls ton and Saratoga. 151 

can scarcely be mistaken in appearance, yet it is 
often confounded with those of a scorbutic kind, to 
which it has very little resemblance. Herpes of every 
description, as Dr. Garnett observes, generally attacks 
the young and plethoric, who, in other respects, en- 
joy high health: and it is in its nature almost always 
inflammatory. The scurvy, on the contrary, shows 
every indication of a putrid state; and when it is not 
brought on by putrescent diet or long abstinence 
from fresh vegetables, it is mostly confined to the 
weak and debilitated valetudinarian. 

As these two diseases have no connexion, I shall 
confine what I have to say on this subject to those 
cutaneous complaints of the herpetic kind for which 
these waters may be often used with advantage. 

There are three or four species of herpes, as de- 
scribed by medical writers; differing, however, but 
very little from each other, except in the extent and 
virulence of the eruption; and requiring nearly the 
same mode of treatment. 

This disease commonly appears on the face, 
though no part of the body is exempt from it: the 
legs, the arms, the limbs, and even the surface of the 
body, is often covered with it. The two principal 
varieties of it are the dry and scaly herpes, and the 
herpes pustulosus or miliaris, which generally ap- 
pears in the form of an infinite number of small 
pimples containing a clear lymph, which exudes 
from them and produces great pain, itching, and 
irritation. 



III 



152 On thd Medicinal Qualities of the 

Persons attacked with these complaints find their 
general health but seldom affected, it being a local 
di^ase and confined to the skin. Indeed, the greater 
number of those who are subject to such complaints 
enjoy excellent health, and are perfectly free from 
any constitutional disease. 

The general cause assigned for these complaints of 
the skin, are exposure to cold when the surface of 
the body is heated; by which perspiration is ob- 
structed, and that proportion of saline matter which 
ought to pass off by the skin, is not evacuated, but 
is accumulated under the cuticle where it produces 
itching, redness, and inflammation; and subsequently 
an eruption on the part. 

Thus we see the reason why those whose consti- 
tutions are the most robust, and who have indulged 
freely in the luxuries of the table, are more fre- 
quently affected with it than others; particularly if 
they expose themselves to cold air after a full meal, 
and when the vessels are in a high state of excite- 
ment. 

Whatever may be the real cause of all those com- 
plaints of the skin which we so frequently meet with, 
they are diseases of a most obstinate nature, most 
difficult of cure, and are apt to return from any ex- 
citing cause; such as irregularity in diet, or change 
of weather. 

In slight cases, as they are purely of a topical 
nature, no internal remedies are necessary. Attention 
to cleanliness, washing the parts occasionally with 



Waters ofBallston and Saratoga. 153 

some astringent lotion, and the frequent use of the 
warm bath will be sufficient. But in inveterate cases 
of long standing, recourse must be had to internal 
as well as external remedies. As my business here, 
however, is merely to speak of the use of these 
waters, I shall refrain from entering into the numer- 
ous class of medicines which are usually prescribed 
in such complaints. 

I have no doubt whatsoever but the waters of 
Ballston or Saratoga may be used with advantage in 
many cases of complaints of the skin; but not so in- 
discriminately as they generally are. Where the 
complaint is purely local, I have never seen the 
smallest advantage from the internal use of them; 
but in those constitutions where excitement has 
been produced in the system by excessive luxury 
and great indulgence in the pleasures of wine, erup- 
tions are extremely common, particularly on the face, 
and may be frequently removed by a regular course 
of the waters of the Congress Spring, taken in such 
quantity as will promote a free and regular discharge 
from the bowels; and assisted by that regularity and 
abstemiousness in diet, which is so conducive to 
general health. 

While at these springs, I have seen many cases of 
this kind relieved; but in none of a topical nature, 
have I ever known any thing more than mere tempo- 
rary benefit; and even these cases were to be attri- 
buted more to the external use of the bath, than the 
internal use of the water. I was consulted by one 

U 



154 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

gentleman, who had been sent by his physicians from 
a great distance to drink these waters for an eruption 
on the face, which was originally purely of a topical 
nature, and brought on in an accidental manner; but 
who, after drinking the Ballston water for two months 
with the most commendable patience, without any 
advantage, was obliged to have recourse to those 
remedies of an external and internal nature which I 
prescribed for him; and which, with the use of the 
warm bath, he may have applied with the same 
benefit at home. 

I do not pretend to say that a regular course of 
the Saratoga water will not greatly assist the cure in 
many instances; but I must observe, that there ap- 
pears to me no actual advantage to be derived from 
it, except what arises from its purgative quality; nor 
do I see any great superiority which a bath of this 
water can have over a bath of any other, except it may 
be imagined that a warm bath, containing a certain 
proportion of common salt, is preferable to a simple 
bath of common water. Did this water contain sul- 
phur in any form, such as those of Harrogate, Moffat, 
and Aix-la-Chapelle, I should think it very superior to 
any other, when used externally or internally, in al- 
most any species of cutaneous complaint. Experi- 
ence has proved the efficacy of such waters, and thus 
has classed sulphur as a sort of specific in the cure 
of herpetic eruptions. 

However, as we have no knowledge of any such 
waters in this country as those of Harrogate or Aix- 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 155 

la-Chapelle, we should not neglect to make use of 
those which have any similitude to them. 

While on the subject of warm bathing, and parti- 
cularly in cutaneous diseases, I cannot help remark- 
ing a peculiarity in the waters of Ballston and Sara- 
toga, which has not been much noticed, but which 
requires some attention. From a reference to the 
description and analysis of these waters, it will be 
recollected that they contain a certain proportion of 
oxyd of iron and a very considerable quantity of 
alkaline earths, all of which are precipitated when the 
water is boiled for any time; after which, the water 
becomes turbid: all this may be easily observed by 
any person who visits the bath. I know of no valu- 
able quality which these substances possess as in- 
gredients in a warm bath; and all those who bathe 
in such water, feel extremely uncomfortable from the 
effect of these substances on the skin, and the diffi- 
culty of removing it. There is, however, a natural 
prejudice in favour of a bath composed of a mineral 
water which has any remarkable quality; and I should 
not be inclined entirely to reject it, in a variety of 
diseases requiring a stimulating effect on the surface 
of the body; such, perhaps, as palsy and chronic 
rheumatism, where no ill effects can arise from a hot 
bath of these waters. But in cutaneous diseases, it 
has always been considered a desideratum to select 
that water for a bath which is best calculated for 
cleansing the skin from the grosser parts of perspira- 



41 



156 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

ble matter which is always flying off, and to produce 
a salutary relaxation on the surface of the body. 

Those waters, therefore, which are the purest, or 
contain the smallest quantity of earthy salts, have al- 
ways been considered as the best calculated for this 
purpose; and wherever an excess of alkali prevails, 
they are preferred from the superior cleansing pro- 
perties which they possess. Since this is the case, 
I cannot but think that in all eruptions of the skin, 
a bath of the purest and softest water should be pre- 
ferred;, but most particularly in that species called 
the herpes far inosus, or scaly eruption. 

In the use of a bath in cutaneous complaints, a 
variety of circumstances of more consequence than 
is generally supposed, should be attended to. First, 
as to the regulation of the heat: the degree of it should 
be always determined by the thermometer. No per- 
son should ever do so by his own sense of feeling, 
or trust to that of the attendant, as nothing can be 
more fallacious; no two persons could ever agree in 
this mode of doing so, as the sensation produced is 
always in proportion to the degree of heat to which 
the body had been previously exposed. 

In diseases of the skin, a tepid temperature of the 
bath is all that is required. At first this should not 
exceed ninety degrees: it may, after being a few 
minutes in the bath, be raised to one hundred; but 
this should also be regulated by the thermometer. 
With respect to the time of continuing in the bath, 
it should at first not exceed ten minutes; but it may 



Waters of Balhton and Saratoga* 157 

be gradually increased to twenty minutes, or even 
half an hour, longer than which the patient should 
never remain in it. 

No enquiry is more frequently made than how 
often the bath should be used, and at what time of 
the day. In general those who are afflicted with 
cutaneous complaints, may go into it two or three 
times a week, or perhaps every second day. If it is 
intended to encourage and promote perspiration, the 
best time of using it is late in the evening; after 
which, he may go into bed, and take a little warm 
white wine whey, to which a few drops of antimonial 
wine may occasionally be added, avoiding the effect 
of cold air the next morning. Whenever the surface 
of the body will allow it, the use of a flesh brush or 
a flannel will be useful in removing the scurf from 
the skin and opening the perspirable pores on the 
surface. 

The plan which is generally pursued at Harrogate, 
and is recommended by so competent a judge as my 
late inestimable friend and fellow student Dr. Gar- 
nett, is, that in drinking the waters during the use of 
the bath, it will be prudent to omit them on the 
morning after going into the bath; but to take them 
every other morning, and occasionally between break- 
fast and dinner, to the quantity of from three to four 
glasses, or sufficient to keep the bowels constantly 
open, as the disease is generally attended with a 
plethoric or inflammatory state of the system; gentle 
purging will tend to remove that disposition, and the 



158 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

waters of the Congress Spring, if judiciously drank, 
are the best adapted for this purpose. 

I have been more particular than perhaps may be 
thought necessary on this head; but finding that it is 
but little understood by invalids in general, I thought 
it might not be unacceptable to those who visit the 
springs to receive such information as I possessed 
on the subject. 

Many who suffer extremely from complaints of 
the bladder and kidneys, usually called gravel, find 
great benefit from drinking those waters. Indeed, 
these are complaints in which they are decidedly 
useful. It cannot be pretended that they act as sol- 
vents of the stone, but they greatly relieve and miti- 
gate all those complaints of the kidneys and bladder 
which are connected with the formation of calculus. 
Seltzer and Spa waters have been long celebrated in 
this complaint; and there can be no reason to doubt 
that the waters of Saratoga in particular have not the 
same good qualities. In most cases, they have appa- 
rent diuretic properties; and it is well known, that 
under a moderate use of them, the mucous, sabulous 
and often purulent discharge which accompanies the 
urine, is rendered much less painful, and in general 
micturation becomes less difficult. These benefits 
arise from the quantity of carbonic acid which the 
water contains, as well as from its saline contents, 
which contribute to keep the bowels moderately 
open. Its alkaline earths, when they are supersaturated 
with carbonic acid, appear to be useful in correcting 



Waters ofBallston and Saratoga, 159 

the acidity which prevails in the stomach, and their 
combination with this excess of acid, certainly ren- 
ders them mild and inoffensive to the system; though 
a priori in this complaint in particular the contrary 
may be imagined. 

Experience has fully demonstrated the salutary 
effects of a solution of alkaline salts, highly charged 
with carbonic acid, in all nephritic complaints; and 
analogy would lead us to conclude, that natural 
waters containing the same gas would possess the 
same properties; in addition to which, these waters 
contain such a proportion of a neutral salt, as cannot 
be without some advantage, particularly if there is 
the smallest tendency to inflammation in any of those 
organs which are the seat of the complaint, and 
which frequently arises from the passage of an irri- 
tating substance from the kidneys down the ureters. 
In any such case, in addition to the internal use of 
the water, recourse must be immediately had to the 
warm bath, which should be of a low temperature, 
to produce relaxation in the parts, and should be 
repeated on any recurrence of such symptoms. 

But after all, these waters give but temporary re- 
lief; and they should be persisted in for a considera- 
ble time, in order to reap every advantage from them. 
Few persons are ever so happy as not to be subject 
to occasional returns of the complaint, which requires 
as much attention to diet and regimen as any other. 

The diet of those who are afflicted with either 
the stone or gravel, should be light and nutritive. 



160 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

No fermented liquors should be drank, and all wines 
which have any tendency to acidity, or which abound 
in tartar, should be also avoided. 

Having thus at some length taken a view of those 
diseases in which the waters of Ballston and Saratoga 
are indicated, and suggested the most proper mode 
of using them, it now remains for me to point out 
those cases in which they may be highly injurious 
as well as those in which their effects may be of a 
doubtful nature. And first, let me caution all those 
who visit those springs against that dangerous delu- 
sion that such waters may be drank in any man- 
ner or in any quantity under every circumstance of 
health or disease, as if profuse purging, as Dr. Fo- 
thergill so well observes, " was a matter of indiffer- 
ence or rather necessary to improve good health,' ' 
while every judicious practitioner is aware that the 
habitual use of purgatives, even of the milder sort, 
not only impoverishes the habit, but injures the con- 
stitution, laying the foundation of a variety of hypo- 
condriacal and nervous affections. 

The first complaint which I think it necessary to 
say a few words on, is apoplexy; and I am the more 
induced to do so, because I find the waters recom- 
mended, and I have known them used, for this dis- 
ease; but such a practice is always attended with 
danger, and never should be advised except in very 
peculiar cases. The external signs of a predisposition 
to apoplexy, are a large head, short neck, a tendency 
to corpulency, and generally a red turgid counte- 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 161 

nance. The symptoms preceding an attack of it, are, 
swimming in the head, giddiness, headache, false 
vision, &c. Now all these symptoms would be 
brought on by the use of these waters. 

To prevent these attacks, nothing is more use- 
ful than evacuations by stool; but these should be 
brought on by medicines that have no stimulant 
qualities, such as iron and carbonic acid gas. The 
water of the Congress Spring even, will not affect 
every person as a cathartic without the assistance of 
some medicine, or drinking it in such a quantity as 
to overload and distend the stomach, which would be 
the most certain way of bringing on a fit of apoplexy 
wherever there was a predisposition to it. In pre- 
venting or warding off an attack of this complaint, 
every thing depends upon attention to diet, regimen, 
and exercise. If any mineral water can be of use, it 
is only one of those simple saline waters that possess 
strong cathartic powers, without any other ingredi- 
ent, such as those of Epsom, and Sedlitz. As to 
the hot bath in this disease, it is scarcely necessary to 
observe, that owing to the rarefaction and distention 
of the vessels which it occasions, it is one of the 
most dangerous remedies. 

The use of this water in epilepsy is of a more 
doubtful character; it has been asserted that persons 
subject to this complaint, have been relieved by the 
use of them; and as epilepsy arises from such a va- 
riety of causes, I cannot dispute it: for instance, one 
of the exciting causes of epilepsy, particularly in 

X 



162 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

children, is worms; if, therefore, a course of these 
waters remove those worms, the epileptic fits will 
soon disappear. But I have the authority of one of 
the most celebrated and judicious physicians in Phi- 
ladelphia, to state, that he was consulted in a case of 
epilepsy which recurred once a fortnight, and for 
which the waters of Ballston were indiscreetly recom- 
mended. The consequence was, an immediate aggra- 
vation of the complaint, the paroxysms becoming so 
frequent as two or thiee times a day during the use 
of them. For myself, I confess I have no experience 
of the effect of them in epilepsy; but of so doubtful 
a nature do I consider them, that I should never 
recommend the use of them, except under the im- 
mediate care of a judicious physician on the spot. 

Phthisis pulmonalis or consumption of the lungs, 
is another disease for which those waters have been 
recommended; but I greatly doubt the propriety of 
this practice. In the latter stage of the complaint, 
where the febrile symptoms run high and the pulse 
quick, they must be injurious. It may, however, be 
W'Orth consideration whether in the first stage of the 
complaint, where there is a hereditary scrophulous 
taint, and a suspicion of tubercles beginning to 
form, this water, drank with great discretion, may 
not have some effect in retarding the progress to- 
wards suppuration. But where there is much cough 
and tightness in the chest, it is manifestly injurious. 

In the early stages of the hooping cough, these 
waters are dangerous; but when the inflammatory 



, 



Waters ofBalhton and Saratoga. 163 

period is over, and the cough continues, the disease 
is then a disease of debility. The cough continues 
from habit, and is chiefly spasmodic; in this latter 
stage of the complaint, removal to a distance from 
home is often of benefit; and I have seen one in- 
stance, which was rather of an alarming nature, 
where the change to the air of Ballston, with a regu- 
lar and discreet use of the water, proved a permanent 
cure. 

I cannot agree with the generality of writers who 
recommend such waters as Ballston and Saratoga in 
cases of the gout, under any form of it, but more par- 
ticularly in the atonic or retrocedent species of it; 
where there is a regular fit of it, they are evidently 
improper; and where it is unfixed and attended with 
cramps in several parts of the body, severe pain in 
the stomach, &c. the certain consequence of drinking 
a cold saline purgative at such a period would be to 
fix it in the more vital organs instead of the extremi- 
ties. A case of this nature occurred to me while at 
Ballston, in a gentleman from the south, who con- 
sulted me after having drank the water of the Con- 
gress Spring for some weeks, with great aggravation 
of a complaint which he described as seated in his 
stomach and bowels, attended with a discharge of 
blood from the intestines. Having some suspicion of 
the cause, I asked him whether he was subject to the 
gout, to which he answered that he had been a mar- 
tyr to it for many years, but that he had no regular 
fit of it for a long time, and was ordered to Ballston 



164 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

by his physician. Thus the history of his complaint 
was explained; and after the most urgent symptoms 
were removed by proper medicines, he had nothing 
more to do than to refrain from the use of the wa- 
ters, and to remove to some more eligible place. 
Here do we see the consequences of not understand- 
ing the nature and qualities of the water we pre- 
scribe, or even of those that are really beneficial in 
many complaints. 

It is not my intention to discuss the different 
methods of cure in every complaint; my proper 
duty here is to point out only those instances where 
the waters of Ballston are beneficial, and where they 
are highly injurious. I shall, therefore, in this case 
barely remark, that of all places whatsoe* er, patients 
labouring under atonic gout should not be sent to 
Ballston; and that if there are any such mineral 
waters in these Stares as we find at Bath or Buxton 
in England, they should be preferred; as they differ 
both in temperature and in every other quality from 
such as I am describing; and long experience has 
proved that they are of essential advantage in atonic 
gout in particular. It has been intimated to me that 
springs of very high temperature have been found 
in the state of Virginia; if this is the case, it is 
more than probable that they have some qualities in 
common with the waters of Bath. It is, therefore, 
much to be regretted at present that we have no 
satisfactory description of waters possessing such 
valuable medicinal properties. 



Waters ofBallston and Saratoga. 165 

The waters of Ballston have been supposed use- 
Ful in rheumatism; but upon what principle I am at 
a loss to determine. Neither from theory or prac- 
tice should I be inclined to advise it. Most assu- 
redly so far from being of service in that specie^ of 
rheumatism styled the acute, it is highly improper; 
and there cannot be a stronger proof of the igno- 
rance which prevails at a distance with respect to 
the qualities of these waters, than observing as we 
do a number of invalids at the springs crippled 
with this disease. I cannot say that I ever knew 
any benefit derived in such cases from the internal 
use of it; and if, as certainly is the case, some 
are relieved by the warm bath, there is no neces- 
sity of resorting to it at such a distance, when it 
is not endowed here with any peculiar qualities. I 
was consulted by a gentleman from Virginia, who 
had patiently drank these waters tor many weeks 
without any benefit, but who was recommended to 
take such a journey to these springs by his physi- 
cian at home; which was even the more remarkable, 
as so obvious and efficacious a remedy as the warm 
springs of his own state, should have been selected. 
These remarks apply equally to paralysis or palsy 
of any part of the body, a disease in which the 
waters either of Ballston or Saratoga are by no 
means calculated to be useful. 

In cases of dropsy, I consider the use of these 
waters as of a very doubtful character; indeed so 
much so, that I should scarcely think it necessary 



166 On the Medicinal Qualities of the 

to mention it, had I not seen it recommended in the 
only publications which I have met on this subject. 
To rely in any degree on the use of these waters 
as a cure for dropsy, would, however, be extremely 
injudicious: still, after the water has been evacuated, 
and some progress towards a cure has been made 
by proper medicines, the use of these waters may 
have salutary effects in restoring the tone of the 
system, while the neutral salts which they contain 
will tend to stimulate the action of the kidneys. 

Some question has arisen whether these waters 
are beneficial or not in diarrhoea, or dysentery. With 
respect to the first, I cannot see any indications for 
the use of it; and as to dysentery, which at its com- 
mencement is accompanied with severe febrile 
symptoms, I should not only think it a very doubt- 
ful, but a very dangerous remedy. However, in the 
latter period, when the fever has subsided and ge- 
neral debility is the attendant consequence, or in 
that stage which is usually called chronic dysentery, 
the waters of Ballston, taken with discretion and 
moderation, may, from their tonic qualities, prove 
occasionally useful. 

There are, perhaps, a few other diseases in which 
the waters of Ballston and Saratoga may be occa- 
sionally taken with advantage; but I have already 
entered into a fuller detail of the medicinal qualities 
of these springs, than I originally intended. Those 
who take the trouble of perusing this work will 
perceive that I have treated the subject with the 



Waters of Ballston and Saratoga. 167 

utmost freedom and candour, avoiding all theoreti- 
cal discussions or speculative observations. If in 
the course of my enquiry I have collected any new 
facts capable of leading to useful conclusions, or if 
from these facts I have drawn such practical results 
as may appear valuable to the medical profession or 
interesting to the invalid, I shall feel great satisfac- 
tion in the reflection that I have added a little to the 
general stock of knowledge. 



FINIS 



APPENDIX 



ANALYSIS OF LEBANON SPUING, 

STATE OF NEW- YORK. 



SECTION I. 

Description of Lebanon. 

1 HE village of Lebanon is situated in the state 
of New- York, on the direct road from Albany to 
Boston, and about twenty-eight miles distance from 
the former place. It adjoins the states of Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut, from each of which it is not 
more than three miles distant. The approach to this 
village is through a rich and fertile country, agree- 
ably diversified with hill and dale. The spring is 
situated on the south side of an eminence, and at 
least one hundred and fifty feet above the level of a 
rivulet which runs in the valley beneath, and passes 
through the village. From the portico of the hotel, 
the eye has an extensive prospect of the surround- 

Y * 



170 Appendix. 

ing country, exhibiting a landscape highly interest- 
ing from the beauty of its mountain scenery; the 
native roughness of which is agreeably relieved by 
a view of the Shakers village which opens at two 
miles distance, and exhibits all that luxuriance of 
cultivation and attention to neatness and order which 
characterize that industrious but singular class of 
people. 

The soil in the neighbourhood is of a good 
quality and highly cultivated, particularly in the 
village. And wherever limestone is a predominant 
rock, as is here in many places the case, it is most 
sensibly distinguished by the luxuriance of the 
vegetation, and the superiority^of the crops. At this 
side the Hudson river, as I have already remarked, 
the mineralogist soon perceives a transition country, 
the whole of the rocks in the neighbourhood of 
the spring being of this character; consisting of 
transition limestone, transition greenstone, gray 
wacke, and transition slate. Those rocks, as is usu- 
ally the case, and particularly the transition lime- 
stone, form high mountain masses, cliffs, and preci- 
pices. Such rocks are said generally to contain 
organic remains, yet this is not always the case; and 
though I have examined the strata of this place 
with great attention, I have never been able to dis- 
cover any trace of animal or vegetable impressions 
in them. The position of the strata is always found 
here somewhat inclined, distinguishing it very de- 
cidedly from the floetz or horizontal formation. 



Analysis of the Lebanon Spring. 171 

In the neighbourhood of the spring in particular, 
the rocks which are most abundant are limestone 
and gray wacke; both of them have a slaty fracture. 
The limestone is of a dove colour, striped or veined; 
it has a very fine grain, and is almost compact, 
which is a sufficient distinction between it and pri- 
mitive limestone; 4t is also frequently traversed by- 
very small veins of white calcarious spar. The gray 
wacke is a very abundant rock in this neighbourhood; 
it is also fine grained and of a slaty texture. Super- 
incumbent on this, lies a slate varying in colour from 
green to gray, and passing into talcose and chlorite 
slate. How far to the northward this transition 
range extends, following the course of the Hudson, 
I am not prepared to say; but after having crossed 
a very high range of hills which run nearly north 
and south, and proceeding to the eastward on the 
Boston road for about seven miles towards Pitts- 
field, the primitive formation again commences and 
continues to prevail with little interruption as far as 
the Penobscot river, which is the utmost extent 
that has been accurately examined. 



172 Appendix. 



SECTION II, 

Situation of the Spring, — Temperature, Specific 
Gravity, and External Qualities. 

The situation of the spring at Lebanon is the 
most agreeable possible, at a considerable elevation 
on the south side of a hill, commanding a delightful 
view of the surrounding country, and a most salu- 
brious atmosphere. The water of this spring rises 
wi : h great rapidity from the crevices of those 
schistose rocks which I have before described, where 
a well has been dug about five feet deep and seven 
or eight feet diameter. The temperature of the water 
is uniformly, through the whole year, 73° of Fah- 
renheit. No steam arises from it in the summer, 
but in the winter it is constantly covered with a 
dense vapour. Only one spring of this nature has 
ever been discovered, while the temperature of all 
others in its neighbourhood are as usual 52; and it is 
more singular that a very abundant one of this low 
temperature exists within twenty yards of the warm 
spring, and nearly on the same level with it. The 
supply of water from the thermal spring is so abun- 
dant, that it is calculated to discharge near ten 
hogsheads in a minute; and advantage has been 
taken of this and the elevation of the ground not 
only to supply all the baths, but to turn two or three 
mills which are erected within a short distance; 



Analysis of the Lebanon Spring. 173 

which mills, from the temperature of the water, 
have the advantage of being kept in action during 
the severity of the winter. 

The sensible qualities of the waters of Lebanon 
are not very peculiar; it is as transparent as crystal 
v/hen taken from the well, and continues to preserve 
this transparency after boiling or long standing: it 
does not sparkle or send out any air bubbles when 
taken up in a glass; it has no smell; its taste is 
neither brisk or acidulous, not unlike pure water 
bur rather more vapid or insipid. A person who has 
just visited Ballston will be most particularly struck 
with the insipidity of this water, as perhaps no two 
waers differ so much as they do in almost every 
particular. Having examined the specific gravity of 
this water with distilled water raised to the same 
temperature, so little difference appeared that it was 
scarcely distinguishable; at the utmost it was only as 
1002 to 1000. An innumerable number of air bub- 
bles are constantly arising from the crevices of the 
rock at the bottom of the well; these ascend in a 
rapid manner through the water with considerable 
agitation, and seem all to break on the surface 
without being absorbed by the water in their pas- 
sage. 



174 Appendix. 



SECTION III. 
Examination of the Gaseous contents of the Spring. 

The first step towards an examination of the 
gaseous contents of this spring was to ascertain 
what was the nature of that gas which rises in such 
abundance with the water, and breaks on its sur- 
face. This gas, as far as I know, has never yet been 
examined. It was always supposed to be fixed air 
or carbonic acid; but the manner in which it arose 
and broke on the surface, so much more abundant 
and so different from the gas which arises from the 
well at Ballston or Saratoga, while at the same time 
the water of this well was totally free from any pun- 
gent or acidulous taste, led me to suspect that the 
greater part of it at least was not carbonic acid gas. 

In order to ascertain the nature of this gas, I col- 
lected a sufficient quantity of it, by means of an 
inverted funnel, in a bottle graduated into cubic 
inches. This was immediately plunged into a vessel 
of fresh lime water, and let remain in it for some 
time, frequently agitating the bottle over the lime 
water; but I found that no diminution of the quan- 
tity of gas had taken place, or that no portion of the 
gas in the bottle had been absorbed. This gas, there- 
fore, could not have been carbonic acid, and must 
have been azote or common air. To determine 
whether it contained azote, a lighted taper was 



Analysis of the Lebanon Spring. 175 

plunged into the bottle, but it was immediately ex- 
tinguished. This proves that the greater part of it 
at least, if not the whole, was azotic gas; it is true 
a small quantity of it may have been common air, 
but it is not probable. However, in order to satisfy 
myself of this, I made use of the following very 
simple but accurate experiment, having no other 
more convenient eudiometer on the spot. I prepared 
a solution of hydro-sulphuret of lime, by boiling 
together sulphur and lime water; and as these sub- 
stances, when fresh made, have the property of 
absorbing oxygen when combined with any other 
gas, I submitted this gas, which had been collected 
from the surface, to its action for some hours, fre- 
quently shaking it in a graduated bottle, but no 
diminution of its volume even now took place, 
which would have been the case had it contained 
atmospheric air. 

The next point to ascertain was, whether the 
water contained any portion of this gas which had 
passed through it so freely, or whether it was im- 
pregnated with carbonic acid gas. For this purpose, 
I made use of the same instrument which I have 
described in the analysis of Ballston water, and 
which I found equally convenient here. This vessel 
was fillecL with one quart of w 7 ater fresh from the 
well. Heat was applied, and in a short time an ex- 
trication of gas took place, but by no means with the 
same rapidity as in the Ballston water. This was 
received in a graduated bottle placed as described 



176 Appendix. 

over the mouth of the instrument; and when the 
whole had been collected, and the temperature of 
the gas reduced to sixty, I found that I had ob- 
tained only 10| cubic inches, this was then passed 
repeatedly through fresh lime water in a vessel, 
over which it was let stand for an hour; but I did 
not perceive that the smallest absorption had taken 
place, which perfectly satisfied me that this water 
was totally free from carbonic acid; but if any doubt 
could remain on the subject, it was decided by 
future experiments, to be related hereafter. 

There could be no suspicion in this case of sul- 
phurated hydrogen gas, which would have been 
very sensible by its smell. I had, therefore, every 
reason to believe, that the greater part if not the 
whole of those 10| cubic inches, was azote; and 
on examination with a lighted taper, I found 
that this was nearly the case, as the taper was ex- 
tinguished; but not with the same rapidity as was 
the case when the gas which was taken from the 
surface of the well was submitted to the action of 
flame. I had reason, therefore, to suspect that a 
certain proportion of atmospheric air was combined 
with it. In order to determine this, I passed it up 
into a graduated bottle which contained hydro- sul- 
phuret of lime newly made; and after having ex- 
posed it to this fluid for some time, I found that it 
had lost one cubic inch, or that the sulphuret had 
taken up one cubic inch of oxvgen. If, therefore, 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 177 

\ve recollect that atmospheric air contains nearly 
one fourth of oxygen and three fourths of azote, 
we may estimate, that out of 10§ cubic inches 
which were collected from one quart of water, four 
cubic inches were atmospheric air, and the remain- 
der 6 1 inches were azote. 

As the nature of this gas is known to every chemi- 
cal reader, I shall not intrude by describing it. The 
only circumstance worth consideration here, is how 
this or any other mineral water can absorb such a 
quantity of this gas, with which we cannot impreg- 
nate water in an artificial manner; or frcm whence 
or in what manner can such a quantity as is here 
extricated at the surface of the well, be produced. 
Dr. Garnett attempts to explain the manner in which 
it is combined with a mineral water, by stating, that 
as some simple substances cannot be united with 
water without being combined with others which 
assist the solution, so may this gas be rendered 
soluble by being combined with oxygen or at- 
mospheric air, which we know water will absorb. 
But this, as he acknowledges himself, is not very 
satisfactory; for if so, why should we not also at 
the same time obtain oxygen or atmospheric air in 
greater quantity. It would, perhaps, be equally fu- 
tile to attempt an explanation of the means from 
which such a quantity of azote is extricated. There 
is, however, one easy method of obtaining azote, 
which is by means of the decomposition of com- 
mon or atmospheric air, and one simple process of 

Z 



178 Appendix. 

doing so, is, by exposing it to a mixture of iron 
filings and sulphur, or iron pyrites in a state of 
decomposition. Now if we suppose this process to 
be going on in the bowels of the earth, we may ex- 
plain the manner in which a quantity of azote may 
be produced, as also account in some degree for 
the high temperature of the water, which would 
take place during this process. But speculations of 
this kind, unsupported by facts, serve only to amuse 
the reader. There is, however, something singular 
in the circumstance, that no carbonic gas could be 
obtained from this water; in every other instance 
that I can find, whether in a warm or a cold water, 
either carbonic acid gas or sulphurated hydrogen, 
or both, have been found in the same water com- 
bined with azote. This, according to Dr. Garnett, is 
the case at Harrogate, where all those gases have 
been found in the same water. In the same manner, 
according to Dr. Pearson, the water of Buxton, 
which is one nearly of the same temperature as Le- 
banon, contains both azote and carbonic acid gas. 
In none of them, however, has the same quantity of 
azote been found as I have described in the waters 
of Lebanon, which I now state as follows: 
One quart or 57.750 cubic inches contains, 

Cubic Inches. 

Atmospheric air - - - 4 
Azotic gas - - - - 6| 

101 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 179 

SECTION IV. 

Examination with Tests or Reagents. 

Experiment I. 
Litmus Paper is not changed in its colour when 
dipped into the water. This shows that no acid ex- 
ists in it, not even carbonic acid gas in a disen- 
gaged state; as if it existed in any notable propor- 
tion, the colour would be changed to red, which 
would be fugacious. 

Experiment II. 
Lime Water^ though added to this water in dif- 
ferent proportions, was never altered by it. I know 
of no more accurate test than this of the presence 
of carbonic acid gas, as if the smallest quantity of 
it existed, it would be sufficient, when added in 
proper proportions, to create a cloud in the lime 
water. This experiment, therefore, fully corrobo- 
rates the statement which I have already made, of 
the total absence of carbonic acid gas. 

Experiment III. 
Paper stained with Turmeric remains perfectly 
unchanged in colour when let stand in this water, 
which shows that no alkaline salt exists in it. 

Experiment IV. 
Prussiat of Potash produces no change whatso- 



180 Appendix. 

ever in the water, nor does Tincture of Galls, which 
shows the total absence of iron. 



Experiment V. 
Sulphuric Acid. When a few drops. of this is 
poured into a glass of the wate,r, not the smallest 
change takes place; nor is there any ex&ication of 
air bubbles in the glass, which would have been the 
case had the water contained any alkaline earths, or 
if carbonic acid, in any form, was present, as was 
so strikingly the case in the waters of Ballston. 

Experiment VI. 
Nitrat and Muriat of Barytes produce a white 
cloud when a few drops are added to a glass of the 
water, which, on standing for some hours, deposits 
a light white powder at the bottom of the glass. 
This shows the presence of a small quantity of sul- 
phuric acid in a state of combination, most probably 
in the state of a selenite. 

Experiment VII. 
Nitrat of Silver. When a few drops of this solu- 
tion are added to a glass of the water, a very sensible 
cloud is produced, and a trifling deposition takes 
place. This shows the presence of marine acid in a 
state of combination, but in very small quantity in- 
deed; not so much as in any common spring in the 
neighbourhood. 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 181 

Experiment VIII. 
Oxalat of Ammonia, after a short time, produces 
a white cioud in the water, followed by a deposition 
of a white powder. This shows the presence of a 
small quantity of calcarious earth forming an oxalat 
of lime; and as the same appearance takes place 
when added to it after the water has been boiled 
for some time, it proves that this lime is in a state 
of combination, forming an earthy salt; most pro- 
bably, as we have already discovered sulphuric acid, 
it thus forms a selenite. 

Experiment IX. 
Carbonat of Potash when poured into this water 
produces a milkiness, and after some time a white 
flocculent precipitate takes place. This test is an 
additional proof of the presence of an earthy salt, 
in small quantity. 

Experiment X. 
Solution of Soap in AlkohoL A few drops of this 
poured into a glass of the water produces a cloud 
in it. This is caused in the same manner as the 
former experiment; the alkali of the soap producing 
a slight decomposition of any earthy salt which 
is present, and which few of any waters are free 
from. 

The above tests were sufficiently satisfactory to 



182 Appendix. 

explain what were the principal substances with which 
this water was impregnated. They appeared to be 
nothing more than selenite and some sort of muriat. 
Experience in such experiments, and in comparing 
the effects and appearances produced by different 
tests, had also convinced me that even those sub- 
stances which I had discovered were in very small 
quantity. To ascertain this, I now proceeded to eva- 
poration, the only true criterion of the exact pro- 
portion. 



SECTION V. 

Examination of the Solid Contents obtained by Eva- 
poration. 

The foregoing experiments with reagents having 
satisfied me that the water of this spring contained 
but a small quantity of foreign ingredients, I thought 
it necessary in proceeding to evaporation, to operate 
on a larger quantity of the fluid than I had done with 
the waters of Ballston. I accordingly placed two 
quarts of the water in a porcelain vessel, and com- 
menced evaporation with a gentle heat, which never 
arose to the boiling point. As soon as the water was 
heated, minute bubbles of air appeared to collect 
round the sides of the vessel, but they gradually dis- 
appeared, still leaving the water perfectly clear and 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 183 

transparent; no pellicle appeared on its surface at any 
time, nor did any deposition take place till nearly 
the whole was evaporated, when a light ash coloured 
powder began to deposit, and continued to increase 
till the process was finished, and the powder dried 
in a temperature of 160; it was then carefully col- 
lected and found to weigh only five grains. 

These five grains were now digested for several 
hours in a small quantity of alkohol of as high a 
specific gravity as 827, filtered, and when dried in 
the same temperature it was found to have lost in 
weight only one grain. The few grains which were 
insoluble in alkohol, were afterwards submitted to 
the action of about eight times their weight of dis- 
tilled water, the solution filtered, and the residuum 
collected on the filter and dried, was found to weigh 
only two grains and a quarter, so that the water had 
only taken up one and three quarters. 

The first solution in alkohol, which only consisted 
of one grain, I now examined in the following man- 
ner: it was evaporated over a lamp in the bottom of 
a Florence flask till a small acrid gelatinous sub- 
stance was obtained, which was heated to dryness. 
This was then converted into an aqueous solution 
by dissolving it in a small quantity of distilled water; 
and as it could be only muriat of lime or muriat of 
magnesia, from the result of former experiments, I 
examined it for the purpose of ascertaining this. To 
a part of it I added pure ammonia; but no change 
took place, which showed it did not contain mag- 



184 Appendix. 

nesia. To another part, I added a few drops of oxalat 
of ammonia, when an immediate precipitate took 
place, which showed that it was lime only; and 
having found by nitrat of silver that the acid was the 
marine, it was now ascertained that the alkoholic 
solution was muriat of lime; and that as it had only 
taken up one grain, the contents of two quarts of 
water may be stated as follows: 

1 grain muriat of lime. 

The solution in distilled water was next examined; 
it was slowly evaporated till an appearance of crys- 
tallization took place. From former experiments the 
presence of a small quantity both of a muriat and a 
sulphat had been ascertained; to determine whether 
this contained any sulphat, a small quantity of it was 
dissolved in a few drops of distilled water, to which 
was added a little muriat of barytes, but no change 
took place; the remainder was then examined by 
adding a few drops of sulphuric acid and applying 
heat, when the strong fumes of muriatic acid, which 
soon appeared, determined the presence of this acid. 
In this solution, we have therefore discovered ma- 
rine salt or muriat of soda, consisting of If in two 
quarts of the water. 

The residuum which had resisted the action both 
of alkohol and distilled water, and which amounted 
to 2J, remained now to be examined. It has been 
already shown that this water contained both lime 
and sulphuric acid in a state of combination; there 



Analysis of the Lebanon Spring. 185 

was, therefore, every reason to presume, that this 
residuum consisted of one or both of these sub- 
stances. In order to take up the sulphat of lime, I 
boiled the residuum for half an hour in something 
more than 500 times its weight of distilled water, 
filtered and dried what still continued insoluble, when 
I found it reduced in weight to J of a grain. That 
which had been taken up by the boiling water was 
therefore undoubtedly sulphat of lime; and as it 
amounted to 1J grains, we may conclude that two 
quarts of the water of Lebanon spring contains 1 i of 
sulphat of lime. 

The residuum which now remained, consisted 
only of | of a grain; on this was poured a little di- 
luted muriatic acid, when the whole was immediately 
dissolved with a slight effervescence; and the solu- 
tion, when examined with oxalat of ammonia, showed 
the presence of lime. 

The whole of the analysis for all useful purposes 
was now completed, and the result I shall state as 
follows: 

Two quarts of the water of Lebanon spring contain, 





Grains. 


Muriat of lime 


- - J 


Muriat of soda - 


- - if 


Sulphat of lime 


- - H 


Carbonat of lime 


3 

A. 



Total, 5 
Of aeriform fluids in two quarts of water: 

Cubic Inches, 
Azotic gas - - - 13 

Atmospheric air - 8 

21 

2 A 



186 Appendix. 

Before I proceed to give any opinion upon the 
medicinal qualities of this water, it may not be unin- 
teresting to make a few observations on the compa- 
rative contents and general circumstances of such 
thermal waters as we are best acquainted with. We 
have several examples, particularly in England, of 
waters so extremely similar in temperature and 
chemical qualities, to the waters of Lebanon, that 
scarcely any difference can be traced between them 
by the most accurate analysis. Those are the waters 
of Buxton, Bristol, and Matlock, in England; and 
of Mallow, in the south of Ireland. The highest tem- 
perature of any of them is that of Buxton, which 
is 82°: the lowest, which is that of Matlock, is 66; 
so that ir> temperature they nearly agree. Bristol, 
which is one of the most ceiel rated of these waters, 
stands at 74°, Lebanon at 73. 

The contents of all these waters are nearly the 
same, viz. a small quantity of muriat of soda, sul- 
phat of lime, and carbonat of lime. Buxton water 
has been found also to contain azotic gas, and I 
strongly suspect that all the rest equally do so, I am 
confident that Matlock water does, as I have observed 
the gas ascending from the well in the same manner, 
and ascertained it to be azote. 

In another respect there is a very striking coinci- 
dence, which is, that in all those places the water 
rises in great abundance, and from rocks of the same 
transition formation as at Lebanon. 



Analysis of the Lebanon Spring, 187 



SECTION VI. 

Observations on the internal and external use of the 
Waters of Lebanon, 

The inferences which will naturally be drawn 
from the above analysis, will lead us to conclude that 
the waters of Lebanon spring are of an extremely 
pure nature, perhaps as much so as any water flowing 
from the bowels of the earth which have been as yet 
examined. Scarcely any common spring water is so 
free from foreign matter as this; its sensible and 
physical properties differ also but little from good 
common water. We must, therefore, in treating of 
its medicinal virtues, attribute whatever it possesses 
principally to temperature, independent of those 
qualities which so very pure a water may be sup- 
posed to possess when taken into the system in any 
quantity; and though, as I have already stated, I am 
not inclined to attribute to mineral waters of any de- 
scription any very exclusive properties which cannot 
be shown by chemical analysis, yet I am not willing 
to extend this opinion so far as not to acknowledge, 
that such waters as Lebanon, possessing a high tem- 
perature and but few foreign or active ingredients, 
may in certain cases afford great benefit to the inva- 
lid. We cannot altogether reject the opinion of the 
best medical writers on this subject, nor the experi- 
ence of those who have received great relief from 
the use of such waters. 



188 Appendix. 

In treating of the medicinal qualities of the Leba- 
non water, and judging from its analogy to those of 
Bristol in England, no doubt can arise of its pos- 
sessing equal virtues. Bristol has been celebrated 
for centuries, for the cure of consumption; and per- 
haps there is no watering place in any country which 
is so much frequented. 

That many persons with a predisposition to this 
complaint have been effectually relieved, and that 
others actually labouring under it have had many of 
the symptoms alleviated, I shall not pretend to deny; 
but that any person with a confirmed phthisis has 
ever been cured by the use of it, has never been 
satisfactorily proved. This is a disease which, even 
more than the gout, has always been the opprobrium 
medicinse. When once it has got firm hold, the 
physician can do little more than relieve the urgent 
symptoms. With this intention, many of those are 
sent to such watering places as Bristol or Lebanon; 
and where medicine will often bring no relief, such 
waters, though not a cure for consumption, alleviate 
some of the most harassing symptoms in this com- 
plaint. It is, as Dr. Saunders observes, " particularly 
efficacious in moderating the thirst, the dry burning 
heat of the hands and feet, the partial night sweats, 
and the symptoms that are peculiarly hectical." All 
these benefits arise principally from the extreme 
purity of the water as well as its temperature, ren- 
dering the use of it in considerable quantity per- 
fectly safe as a mild diluent. Something also may be 



Analysis of the Lebanon Spring. 189 

attributed to change of air and climate. No part of 
this country enjoys a more temperate or salubrious 
atmosphere than Lebanon; nor is there any place 
where the advantage of exercise can be more freely 
enjoyed. 

After having spoken of the use of Ballston water in 
the cure of dyspepsia, and highly recommended it as 
a most valuable remedy in the most obstinate cases, 
it may be thought singular that I should venture an 
opinion on the use of so different a water as Lebanon 
in a disease of this nature; but those who are ac- 
quainted with the variety of causes which give rise 
to this complaint, and the variety of anomalous 
symptoms which attend it, will not be surprised at 
this apparent contradiction. 

In those cases of dyspepsia which are but slight, 
where there is no organic affection of the viscera, 
where there is only a defective digestion and derange- 
ment of the alimentary organs, arising from a life of 
high indulgence, the use of Lebanon water alone, 
persevered in for some time, will give considerable 
relief; but more particularly if those dyspeptic symp- 
toms have any connexion with a gouty habit and 
proceed from retrocession; in such case this water is 
much more safe and salutary than either the Ballston 
or Saratoga water. Besides this, the greatest advan- 
tage may be received from the use of it as a bath at 
its natural temperature; but if necessary, this tem- 
perature may be raised; and from such a bath as this 
alone, such patients cannot fail of finding relief. 



190 Appendix. 

The immediate effects of these waters on the sys- 
tem are so little sensible, that it is not surprising that 
they should be considered by many as purely inert. 
It often happens, however, that where the stomach 
is foul and loaded with bilious or acrid matter, this 
water often purges pretty freely at first; but this 
operation ceases when the intestines are restored t® 
their natural state. The most common effect of this 
water is as a diuretic; from this many who have 
been affected with complaints of the bladder and 
kidneys, have received benefit. It may be drank in 
considerable quantity without any inconvenience, 
particularly if it passes off freely by the kidneys, in 
which case it relieves many of those painful symp- 
toms which attend what are called attacks of the 
gravel. 

Those who are much affected with the gout 
are frequently subject to nephritic complaints; in 
such cases such a water as this is much safer and 
more efficacious than any chalybeate or cold saline 
water; indeed no judicious physician would venture 
to prescribe waters of stich a nature in any stage of 
the gout. Such waters as Buxton or Bath derive 
their principal credit from the relief which persons 
labouring under retrocedent gout receive from them; 
and although the temperature ef Lebanon spring is 
not quite so high as that of Buxton, yet it comes 
nearer to it than any other; and the experience of 
many invalids have confirmed the opinion of its 
useful qualities; and yet, notwithstanding what I 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 191 

have said, I should consider myself as in some de- 
gree deceiving my readers, if I was understood as 
stating this water to be possessed of any strong 
powers on the system. Reason as well as analysis 
will show at once that this cannot be the case. How 
different indeed is it in every respect from the waters 
of Ballston and Saratoga, which are so powerful that 
much of the physician's business is to prevent the 
abuse of them, while the waters of Lebanon may 
be drank with freedom without any apprehension. 

Whatever I have now to say on this subject shall 
be principally confined to the use of this water as a 
bath in certain diseases. The ancients esteemed warm 
bathing not only as a remedy in disease, but as one 
of their greatest luxuries. With many in this country 
it is not so much used as a wholesome and even a 
necessary luxury, as it is made use of by the advice 
of a physician for the cure of particular diseases. 

It is, however, better understood in Europe; and 
in many parts of it, particularly the south, is still 
considered so conducive to health, that their baths 
are constructed in a superb manner, and with as 
much attention to convenience and luxury as any of 
the edifices which they inhabit. 

The use of the warm bath is now considered very 
justly as indispensable in warm climates. It has long 
been common in the French West India islands; and 
their exemption from disease when compared with 
the British, is probably in some measure to be attri- 
buted to the frequent custom of warm bathing. So 



192 Appendix. 

far from its producing relaxation or debility, as many 
suppose, it was formerly considered as the solace of 
toil, and resorted to with a view to renovate vigour 
exhausted by exertion. I have already made some 
remarks on its use in diseases of the skin, much 
fewer cases of which should we meet with if more 
attention was shown to strict cleanliness of person, 
or if that matter which is thrown out by the ex- 
halents and suffered to accumulate on the surface of 
the body, was more frequently removed by the use 
of the warm bath. 

With regard to the use of the waters of Lebanon 
externally, I cannot consider them as any more than 
a bath of a very pure water, and of a very agree- 
able and steady temperature, scarcely capable of 
doing mischief in any complaint, and in some cases 
of a sufficient temperature to be useful; but wherever 
the highest temperature (and such I consider should 
seldom exceed 98°) becomes necessary, it can be ob- 
tained here in as comfortable a manner as at any 
other watering place in this country, with the advan- 
tage of a plentiful supply of the same water. 

As the natural temperature of the water is only 
from 73 to 74, it may be considered rather as a low 
state of a tepid bath. A slight shock is felt on first 
immersion, but much of this depends on the relative 
heat of the body at the time; but this is almost im- 
mediately succeeded by a highly pleasurable glow 
over the whole body, which persons describe as if 
the skin was anointed with some soft substance 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring* 193 

with which the water was impregnated, but which 
entirely arises from its purity combined with moisture 
and temperature. On account of the slight eifect of 
the shock, persons of a very delicate constitution 
can bear it without any disagreeable effect, as less 
reaction of the system is required to overcome it. 

Such being the eifect of this water, it will not be 
difficult to understand in what diseases it may be 
used externally with advantage. The greater number 
of cases which are most relieved by the use of this 
natural bath, are those in which particular parts of 
the body have suffered a loss of sensation or action, 
or where a certain degree of rigidity has seized any 
of the joints or limbs. When this arises from rheu- 
matism of the chronic kind after the inflammatory 
action is over, much relief may be expected from 
the use of this bath even without additional heat. 
It may be remarked also, that it has one advantage, 
which is, that from the size of the bath and the 
quantity of the water, the patient may make use of 
any posture, or even move about during the use of 
it, a circumstance of no small advantage. 

There are very few instances where invalids just 
recovering from the effects of long confinement 
from rheumatic attacks, can venture at once to 
plunge into a cold bath, however advisable it may 
afterwards be. The temperature of the Lebanon bath 
is in these cases a most admirable preparation for 
cold or sea bathing, as when a certain degree of 
healthy action is restored, a colder water mav then be 

2B 



194 Appendix. 

used with greater advantage. There are also cases of 
gout where this bath may be used in its natural state, 
but in general it will be much safer to begin with it 
heated to a higher temperature. The true paralysis 
also requires a bath of a much more decided stimu- 
lus of heat than this water in its natural state. 

In chorea sancti viti, considerable benefit may be 
received from the external use of this bath; and in 
many cases of cramps or spasms of any particular 
limb, experience has shown the good effects of it. 
Few such cases have come within my own parti- 
cular observation while there, but I cannot entirely 
discredit the accounts which I have received of very 
singular cures which have been performed by the 
external use of this tepid water in complaints of this 
nature. 

It would be only repeating much of what I have 
already said on cutaneous complaints when treating 
of the waters of Ballston, was I to enter into the 
particular nature of warm bathing in all herpetic 
eruptions; but as I consider the principal advantage 
of it to arise from moisture and temperature more 
than any peculiar substance which the water contains, 
(except, perhaps, in the single instance of a sulphur- 
ous impregnation,) I am inclined to the opinion that 
in almost all complaints of the skin, the purer the 
water the more effectual the bath. If this is the case, 
the water of Lebanon as an external remedy is at least 
as effectual as any other of the same temperature, 
whether natural or artificial; and it cannot be denied 



Analysis of Lebanon Spring. 1§5 

that a bath of such purity is more agreeable and 
luxurious, than one which holds in solution a variety 
of extraneous substances. 

With respect to the time of making use of this 
bath, it must be principally regulated by the effect 
which is intended to be produced. If the temper- 
ature is to be raised for the purpose of producing a 
diaphoresis, the best time is certainly late in the 
evening; but in no case should it be used after a full 
meal; and if it is used of the natural heat, the best 
time is certainly about an hour or two before dinner; 
seldom remaining in it more than ten minutes, and 
using a little gentle exercise after coming out of it. 



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